Business

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.

Prairie Wife Retreat Celebrates Connection

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

Prairie Wife Retreat Celebrates Connection

Publisher Sat, 09/26/2026 - 07:00

Press Release

Historic Elk Mountain Hotel

The Historic Elk Mountain Hotel welcomed women from across Wyoming and the Mountain West for the 2nd Annual Prairie Wife in Heels Women’s Retreat, held September 11–13. Led by media personality Cathy Holman (“Prairie Wife”), the retreat offered a dynamic mix of themed festivities, outdoor exploration, hands-on creativity, and personal-growth programming.

The retreat launched Friday evening with a high-energy “Mob Wife” Italian-themed dinner, where guests embraced bold fashion, faux fur, dramatic prints, and unapologetic glamour. The hotel’s dining room offered classic homemade lasagna and other Italian favorites.

Following dinner, attendees gathered for a lively book club discussion of Mafia Princess by Marisa Merico, exploring themes of resilience, identity, and personal transformation.

On Saturday morning, guests ventured to Rock Creek Trail near Arlington, enjoying a 3 mile hike guided by Cathy through one of the region’s most scenic and peaceful routes. The trail’s sweeping views and quiet forested stretches offered time for reflection, conversation, and connection with Wyoming’s landscape. On Friday, before the festivities officially kicked off, a few early arriving guests joined Cathy for the longer 11-mile hike giving the opportunity to enjoy even more of the trail’s beauty.

After returning to Elk Mountain, attendees gathered on the hotel lawn for a charming and memorable Lunch with Llamas, courtesy of Elk Mountain Llama Trekking. Guests enjoyed a picnic style meal while mingling with llamas.

Holman led her signature workshop, “Confidence, Aging, and Owning Your Power,” guiding participants through discussions and exercises focused on self-worth, personal identity, and embracing strength at every stage of life.

Following the workshop was an optional hands-on jewelry-making session led by Pure Impressions Design, where guests crafted personalized pieces using high-quality materials and guided techniques. The session encouraged creativity, self-expression, and connection—offering participants a meaningful keepsake to take home from the weekend.

The entire weekend was captured by Amanda of Amanda Jo Photography, who also offered professional head shots for anyone interested. A gallery of the entire weekend was shared with the attendees to help preserve their memories of the special weekend.

“This was our second annual Prairie Wife Retreat at the Elk Mountain Hotel, and just like last year, the experience was amazing! In today’s rushed and task-filled world, it’s hard to find even an hour to relax, and for a group of almost 30 women to take a whole weekend for themselves is truly a gift. The gorgeous accommodations at the Elk Mountain Hotel, both inside and outside, provides the perfect space to relax and chat with old and new friends. The food (and bar staff) is equally wonderful, and this year we even had an Italian Feast to go with our “Mob Wife” theme the first evening. One of my favorite things about our retreat is hiking the Rock Creek Trail. The views are gorgeous and include towering mountains, a rushing creek, and, on our longer hike, two waterfalls! And it’s just a quick drive from the hotel, which makes it incredibly convenient for our retreat attendees. Each year I quietly sit back and listen to our guests as they prepare to leave because it helps me see what they enjoyed about the experience. Over and over, I hear how relaxing it was to be in such a calm, quiet mountain town; how much they enjoyed the chance to connect with other like-minded women; and the nonstop exclamations about the beauty of Wyoming (and the local moose population) and what a gift it is to live here. The Elk Mountain Hotel is a hidden gem that I hope more people take advantage of for retreats, and even a weekend away.”

The Prairie Wife in Heels Women’s Retreat continues to grow in popularity, offering women a rare opportunity to step away from daily responsibilities and reconnect with themselves and one another. Planning is already underway for next year’s event.

Community Embraces RP Lumber Event

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

Community Embraces RP Lumber Event

Publisher Sat, 09/26/2026 - 07:00

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

It is always heartening to see businesses make special efforts to reach out to their communities and show that they care about the community they serve.

This was the case when RP Lumber had a customer appreciation day along with different vendors to interact with people coming into the store. It happened in late August on the 25th of the month at RP Lumber in Rawlins.

The store had over 20 vendors spread throughout the store to answer questions about their products and companies. Many of the vendors were giving away swag such as hats and branded items.

RP Lumber was serving hamburgers, hot dogs and soft serve ice cream. The store offered prizes that could be won if customers visited every vendor and got a stamp. Then the ticket was entered into a drawing.

This had customers taking time to go throughout the store and realize what it had to offer.

Ed Cassat, the manager of RP Lumber was happy that many were surprised at what they saw.

“We had so many customers who did not realize we had a nice showroom, or that we stock flooring, and so many other items,” Cassat said. “Some customers did not know we remodeled the store several years ago.”

There were vendors at the event that had been at another similar to what RP Lumber was doing in Laramie back in July, which was about four times the size of Rawlins and all said that only a few people really attended and they were happy with the turnout.

There was major turnout.

The store served 550 hamburgers, 1200 hot dogs and RP Lumber ran out of soft ice cream. The community came to visit the store in force.

“We had to keep someone to keep buying hamburgers and hot dogs because we kept running out,” Cassat said. “We served a lot of people.”

The event was so popular, families came in together.

Where did the idea come from to have this event?

It came to Cassat who was driving to work.

Cassat, who lives in Saratoga and is a native of the town, while driving to Rawlins and realized winter was on the horizon and he wanted to do a sale.

“I then thought about having a garage sale where we could get rid of a lot of dead material that actually was costing us money being on inventory and then it hit me, I had wanted to do a contractors event, and then I realized I wanted to do a customer appreciation event,” Cassat said. “That is how this event came to be. I may take credit for coming up with the idea, but it was my employees that made it happen. They took my idea and ran with it.”

Staff at RP Lumber were welcoming and friendly. Their good attitude transferred to the vendors who seemed to be enjoying themselves as they interacted with the public who came to get stamps or had inquiries about their products.

Cassat said RP Lumber supports the small towns in Carbon County from Baggs to Hanna. They have signs in both communities indicating RP Lumber will deliver.

“We want everyone in this County to know we will go out of our way to serve them,” Cassat said. “We will do whatever we can for the communities and I try to keep our tax dollars in this County.”

It was a lot of work but it was wildly successful.

“We wanted to really let the communities know we care and that is a true goal at RP Lumber,” Cassat said. “We listen to the public too. We want to serve the locals and that means try to get what customers want.”

The RP Lumber event that was held in August where so many community members walked out of the store happy, Cassat’s words ring true.

Party on the Platte Raises Record Amount for Community Center

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

Party on the Platte Raises Record Amount for Community Center

Publisher Sat, 09/26/2026 - 07:00

By Dana Davis

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

The Platte Valley Community Center’s 19th annual Party on the Platte brought the community together Sept. 11 and raised a record amount to support improvements at the facility.

The annual fundraiser brought in $109,022, according to Platte Valley Community Center Director Joe Elder. The total surpassed previous fundraising efforts and will help fund improvements to the center’s Fine Arts Theater.

“It was a super good event in that regard, and then also there weren’t really any glitches from my perspective,” Elder said.

Attendance remained consistent with previous years, with about 250 to 260 people typically signing up for the event and approximately 230 attending.

Elder said the fundraiser initially brought in about $96,000. A donor who had hoped to attend but was unable to make the event stopped by the following Monday with an additional contribution, helping push the total above $100,000.

Funds from Party on the Platte are generally directed toward a specific improvement or need at the community center each year. This year, organizers turned their attention to the theater.

The Platte Valley Community Center opened in 2006, and Elder said some of the theater equipment is now in need of replacement or upgrades.

“We really haven’t had any updates since the building’s been built,” Elder said of major improvements to the theater. “Just over time, things like the projector is kind of outdated, some speakers and just some sound stuff that needs to be replaced.”

Plans include improvements to the projection and sound systems, replacement of equipment that is no longer working and cleaning the theater curtains. The curtains will also be treated with fire retardant as part of the cleaning process.

The upgrades come as the theater is seeing increased use beyond traditional performances.

Elder said the community center has been hosting more conferences, and organizers frequently choose the theater for keynote speakers and presentations. Improvements to the projection system are expected to make the space easier for presenters to use from the stage rather than requiring someone to operate equipment from the sound room.

The 400-seat theater is also used for community and school productions. Elder said increased activity, including student productions and the new Saratoga Theater Company, has brought more attention to a part of the community center that some visitors may not initially realize is there.

“It’s really been used a lot more lately, and it’s kind of hidden to people that don’t know it’s there,” Elder said. “When people see it, they’re like, ‘Oh my God.’”

This year’s Party on the Platte also added live music from Sam and Lilly Platts during the opening portion of the evening as guests arrived and browsed auction items.

Sam Platts, who grew up in Saratoga and is now based in Texas, performs traditional country and Western music. Elder said the local connection made the live music a good fit for the fundraiser, and there is interest in having the couple return if their travel schedule brings them through the area during next year’s event.

Party on the Platte featured both silent and live auctions with items donated by area businesses, artists and supporters.

The live auction offered an assortment ranging from artwork and jewelry to tools and building materials. Items included bronze sculptures, homemade quilts, jewelry by Dixie Arthur and Strong Tower Designs, a grill donated by Shively Hardware, a chainsaw from Shively Hardware North and a unit of two-by-fours donated by the mill.

One of the returning auction favorites was an opportunity for the winning bidder to have a name used in a novel by Wyoming author C.J. Box. Other offerings included firearms and even a homemade cheesecake.

Elder said the variety provided something for nearly everyone attending.

With another Party on the Platte complete, the record fundraising total will now be put back into a facility that has served the Upper North Platte Valley for two decades, helping update the theater for performances, school productions, conferences and other community events.

Wings Wilma’s Way

Publisher — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Wings Wilma’s Way

Publisher Sat, 09/12/2026 - 07:00

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

A couple of months ago, if you were going down Cedar Street and saw a standalone building across from the Motel 6 with a lot of cars in its parking lot and a line going out the door and wondered what was going on, a new restaurant had opened.

It was Wings Asian Express.

Owner Wilma Henderson and her husband Edwin “Ed” were bringing a new Asian restaurant to Rawlins.

The hours were limited in the beginning. It was open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on four select days.

She has evolved from those beginning days to where her restaurant is now open Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, the place is open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m and it is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Her concept is different from most restaurants in the city, although if one went to restaurants in Asia, her model is common.

Panda Express in the United States also has a similar model, but Wilma, who was born in the Philippines, knows firsthand that her model is like many eateries she was exposed to growing up in the city of Marawi.

“The city was in the Muslim region and we were there because my father was in the military,” Henderson said. “Later, I was a teacher and met my husband there.”

Ed was vacationing in the city that straddles a lake and a river and is considered beautiful. It is also the only chartered Muslim city in the country. The Philippine army had a strong presence back when Wilma lived there.

Ed and Wilma met in 1983.

“We had what my family calls a lightning marriage,” Wilma said. “We met in April and got married in July.”

They have been married for 44 years.

Ed is a second-generation Rawlins native and the couple made their home where he grew up.

The third generation is her two daughters. One moved to Texas but the other works at Sinclair. Wilma has four grandchildren with a fifth on the way.

So a fourth generation is in the making.

Wilma is a friendly person who does her best to help customers choose a meal they will enjoy, whether they order one or three entrees.

“We have Beef and Broccoli and Mongolian Beef for dinner, which we don’t serve at lunch,” Wilma said. “At lunch we have Kung Pao Chicken, Orange Chicken, General Tsao Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Sesame Chicken, Chicken Teriyaki and Honey Walnut Shrimp.”

The Honey Walnut Shrimp is made to order because it is delicate. This dish is a staple at higher-end wedding banquets in Asia. The shrimp wings are large and the sauce is delicately sweet and delicious. It is a couple of dollars more when ordering as an entree, but worth it.

Her price structure is one entree and one side for $9.99. Two entrees and a side is $12.99. For three entrees and a side, it’s $15.99. A side is either fried rice or Lo Mein.

She has egg rolls, crab rangoons and chicken wings as appetizers.

“My egg rolls are not exactly what people expect,” Wilma said. “They are my way, which is a bit Philippine. My cooking does have a Philippine twist. Customers tell me they like them better, but people are kind, and I do my dishes my way. They may be Chinese-based, but for instance, my Kung Pao chicken has peanuts and peppers but also zucchini.”

She said her chicken dishes, General Tsao’s Chicken, Sesame Chicken and Orange Chicken, are her biggest sellers generally but she sells out her evening dishes of Beef and Broccoli and Mongolian Beef too.

Wilma’s Teriyaki Chicken is new and gaining popularity. It is also made to order.

The Sweet and Sour Pork is tender chunks of white meat in a flavorful sweet and sour sauce.

Pork is more popular than chicken in most Asian countries and this dish would probably be the most popular because, like the shrimp walnut, the sauce is light and not overpowering.

“I make all my sauces from scratch,” Wilma said. “Our food is made fresh and it is what I would serve my family.”

She was always in high demand to make family meals because she really enjoys cooking.

The Hendersons own the building where Wings is housed. It was a church for 15 years. Before that, it was a real estate office where Wilma was a broker and had realtors working with her.

“I got burned out after a while and retired,” Wilma said. “When the church left, I wasn’t sure what to do with the building. I thought about selling it, leasing it again and then I realized I had always wanted to do a restaurant and this could be my chance.”

She talked it over with Ed, who she said is very supportive, and it took them about a year to get the place ready.

“My passion is cooking,” Wilma said. “I love to cook. Even when I go back to the Philippines, the custom is everyone waits on you and treats you like a princess. But when I am there, I cook and love it. It is not work for me. It is a joy to cook. I am happy to cook for people and I have always been like this.”

Wilma admits that the first day they opened, she was overwhelmed.

“We ran out of food in an hour and a half,” Wilma said. “I almost wanted to shut the doors. I wanted to do this as a hobby and if it were not for all my Filipino friends who had come and helped me that time, I would have died.”

Now that Wings has been open for a few months, she has gotten to know the rhythm of the business and is prepared.

Her slow time is between 2 p.m and 4 p.m. and she enjoys it.

“This is my hobby and I don’t want it so busy; it is not enjoyable,” Wilma said. “I am happy customers like my food because the restaurant business is tough. It is not easy. There is a lot of prep. But as I said, cooking is my passion and this is what I love to do.”

Wilma’s twist on the Asian dishes she prepares with her sauces makes Wings a nice spice to the restaurant world in Rawlins and Carbon County.

Thrift Store Turns Treasures Into Community Support

Publisher — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 01:30:00 +0000

Thrift Store Turns Treasures Into Community Support

Publisher Sun, 08/23/2026 - 03:30

By Mike Armstrong

Peporter, Carbon County Comet

Christine “Crissy” Cruz-Ford opened Prairie Treasures Thrift Store in the business district of downtown Rawlins in February and the address is 311 W. Cedar Street.

She is open Tuesday to Saturday and starts business at 11 a.m.

She is happy to be in her location for several reasons.

She rents it from the International Order Odd Fellows, an organization that Cruz-Ford points out does good for people in need.

“They help people who for instance, a family of four loses their primary breadwinner; they will go in and pay the mortgage for a few months,” Cruz-Ford said. “They are trying to attract younger people for involvement in the organization too.

Their website said, “We are a global fraternal organization founded in 1819 with a mission to promote friendship, love, and truth while improving communities and aiding those in need. Rooted in the principles of mutual aid and universal brotherhood, the IOOF offers members the opportunity to connect, serve, and grow through charitable work, social activities, and personal development. With a rich history of fostering unity and goodwill, the Odd Fellows are committed to making a positive difference in the world by embracing diversity, supporting local and global causes, and living by their timeless motto: “Friendship, Love, and Truth.”

“I was staying at home and working at Cappy’s here and there,” Cruz-Ford said. “I did work for the refinery where I was an analyst, but I left that job over three years ago. I did feel after some time, I had to do something.”

She looked at doing a food truck, but permitting and the overhead made her think twice. Cruz-Ford told her husband she did not think she would like working in such a confined space.

Cruz-Ford knows Rawlins well, having been born and raised in the City. She did move to Utah for a short period of time, but has basically lived in Rawlins most of her life.

Cruz-Ford started looking at running a thrift store, which she has found to be a great business.

“I have a lot of freedom,” Cruz-Ford said. “Plus, because it is a thrift store, I get to interact with people who come from all types of life. I get to help people who are looking for a specific thing and I hear conversations that are interesting.

“I really like it here. The vibe is good here,” Cruz-Ford said. “And my workers are amazing. I have four employees and I absolutely love them.”

It is a family venture too.

Her mother helps her with closing the store and her kids help after school. She said her husband helps too.

Prairie Treasures Thrift Store takes donations, while also going to some auctions and estate sales.

The bulk of the merchandise is clothing and shoes, although the store does have a lot of other items to consider.

It is well organized.

The prices are purposely kept low.

Cruz-Ford will help those in need.

Recently, she donated two outfits for school children in need. There were 10 kids who Cruz-Ford helped.

“I have a voucher system with Carbon County COVE (a group that helps abused persons) set up,” Cruz-Ford said. “Also, I help prisoners that are just getting out in rehab and they sometimes literally have nothing. So I give an outfit for getting around and one for interviews. That is one of the reasons I got into this business. I want to help the community where I can.”

She was pleasantly surprised how many tourists came to the store.

“It is a place they really want to come to, Cruz-Ford said. “It is fun to meet people from out of town.

Cruz-Ford recently won the Primary for the at-large seat for the Rawlins Council.

She hopes to help the community more with that position.

That is what drives Cruz-Ford most every day she is open.

Helping people when she can.

Energy Day Sparks Curiosity at the Carbon County Fair

Publisher — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Energy Day Sparks Curiosity at the Carbon County Fair

Publisher Sat, 08/08/2026 - 19:00

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Energy Day at the Carbon County Fair is an opportunity for kids to get to learn about different companies that supply utilities in a fun and educational way.

There are electric companies, gas companies and engineering and consulting companies that give the kids the opportunity to ask questions.

WLC Engineering does a lot of work around Wyoming and has offices in Rawlins and Casper. Emily Boyd said the company has been coming to Energy Day since it first started five years ago. The company works with Sinclair and Carbon Power. WLC was giving out squirt guns and they gave out surveying coloring books. The idea is to make children aware of what engineering does in the energy field.

“We have had over 100 kids come up to us,” Boyd said. “We had 120 bags of surveying coloring books and they are all gone.”

Abigail Ramler works for Ayers Consulting and the company does landscape architecture, engineering and planning. Ramler works in their environmental department. Their game had a spin on a wheel where the color corresponded to a question and a prize was given to a kid who answered.

The questions were not easy.

David Fisher, 11. was asked what he would like to see on landscaped, designed property.

“I would like to see houses built for people that are in need of homes and parks that are green space for kids,” Fisher said. “That would be my answer.”

Carbon Power’s Andrew Everett said the company showed off a digger that puts poles in the ground.

“It gives kids a chance to see heavy equipment and what it takes to get power to them,” Everett said. “We had a really good turnout and the kids were really interested and they gained some good information about their local power company

Black Hills Energy had smaller displays of equipment and pipes for kids to touch. Jesse Henderson, the Damage Prevention Coordinator, explained the value of understanding and the importance of knowing where pipes were and how easily they could be damaged if not careful.

“If we can get 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders to know that 811 should be called before any digging can be done, that would be great,” Henderson said. “We don’t want anyone to be put in jeopardy or get hurt or killed. It doesn’t matter if you are putting in a tree, a deck or doing some landscaping, you need to make a call.”

Black Hills Energy is about being proactive in understanding digging, according to Henderson.

His presentation is interesting to adults too.

“I think the more education we give, the better,” Laurie Farcus, Black Hills Energy Public Relations, said. “By having these tools and pipes you can visualize what is underground because as they say a picture or in this case, the pipe is worth a thousand words.”

Farcus and Henderson pointed out August 11 is national 811 day.

Energy Day at Carbon County Fair was once again fun and educational for the kids.