“Epic” Trails at Curt Gowdy

update
Volume 3, Issue 3
ARTS. PARKS.
HIS
Y.
Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources
October 2009
STATE PARKS
“Epic” Trails at Curt Gowdy
After becoming a favorite destination for mountain
bikers, hikers and equestrians in recent years, the
Curt Gowdy State Park Trail System has now been
nationally recognized as a world class mountain bike
destination.
The International Mountain Bicycling Association
has given the trail system an “Epic” designation,
Wyoming’s first and only such honor.
Although there isn’t a defined criteria for an Epic
designation, the IMBA says that Epic trails are all
“quality” rides.
Todd Thibodeau, Wyoming State Parks, accepts a grant
from the Overland Mountain Bike Club, Ft. Collins,
accepts a grant to create and/or improve more trails
within Wyoming State Parks.
“The sky’s the limit to the experiences that the Epic
program can embrace,” according to the IMBA
website. “Like the sport itself, the definition of an
Epic will continue to evolve. One theme remains
unchanged: The criterion for the Epic designation
is quality: quality trails, a quality experience –
something worth celebrating. Whether you are on a
flowing singletrack, hang time or a mega challenge,
Epics feature something for everyone.”
The Curt Gowdy Trail system was built three years
through the efforts of hundred of volunteers.
During the past three years, the Wyoming Division
of State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails has hosted
mountain bike events, cancer walks and F.E. Warren
Air Force Base uses the trail system for returning
vets in therapeutic and rehabilitation programs.
Additionally, more than 500 kids and their parents
participated in a Wyoming Kids Xtreme Event –
Summer Outdoor Slam.
Milward Simpson, Domenic Bravo, Todd Thibodeau and
Paul Gritten at the ceremony at Curt Gowdy.
The Division of State Parks, Historic Sites and Trail
has also partnered with the University of Wyoming;
Laramie County Community College; Big Brothers,
Big Sisters; local sports shops; bicycle clubs; and the
Wyoming Conservation Corps in the development
and use of the trail system.
continued ...
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STATE PARKS CONTINUED
“Epic” Trails at Curt Gowdy continued ...
All of these uses have proven to be low impact
and contribute to the cleanliness to the overall trail
system.
What people are saying about Curt
Gowdy State Park Trails:
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/curtgowdy-state-park.html
A ceremony commemorating the Trails System’s Epic
Award designation was held on September 26 at the
Aspen Grove Trail Head.
http://www.imba.com/epics/curt_gowdy.html
Thibodeau Awarded FOX/IMBA Award
Award honors trail advocates who advance mountain bike access in their communities.
Todd Thibodeau has been part of the mountain biking
scene along Colorado's Front Range since 1987, when
he bought his first Stumpjumper and pitched in to
help build the Peaks Trail that connects Breckenridge
with Frisco. And he's long been a friendly face on the
trails as part of the Diamond Peaks Mountain Bike
Patrol around Fort Collins.
Today, Thibodeau is the Planning and Grants
Manager for Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and
Trails. He's been the driving force behind the new
trails at Curt Gowdy State Park, one of the newest
"Epics." While it may seem that the development of
the Curt Gowdy trails has happened almost overnight
relative to most large trail projects, Thibodeau has
been working for years to develop strategies and
procedures for trail construction and management
within a state park system that is traditionally focused
on lake-based recreation. Thibodeau says that one
of his favorite aspects of this job is that, "I really feel
like I'm in a position to make a difference." And he's
certainly improved the lives of mountain bikers in
Wyoming and surrounding states.
says Thibodeau. Revenue is rising significantly
each year as word of the Gowdy trails spreads, and
visitation has increased substantially in the shoulder
seasons when colder weather or low water levels
would keep boaters and fishermen away.
Thibodeau has shown that well thought-out trails can
be a tremendous asset to parks that wish to provide
more recreation opportunities to a variety of user
groups without increasing congestion at traditional
park destinations like beaches, boat ramps, or picnic
grounds. He's helped to create a model for land
mangers nationwide, and for that Todd Thibodeau is a
Fox/IMBA Hero.
The success at Curt Gowdy has led Wyoming State
Parks to explore similar projects at other parks, plus
it has caught the attention of land managers around
the country that want to bring sustainable, quiet
recreation to their parks. "Now that we're a couple of
years in, there's almost a synergy around the project,"
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STATE PARKS CONTINUED
“Bam Bam” has a New Home
“Bam Bam” the Sinks Canyon State Park Bighorn
Sheep ram, who has gained local and internet fame in
recent months, was moved to a new home in the Wind
River Mountains, far away from roads and, hopefully,
people.
The ram had become something of a celebrity because
he was so tame. Visitors from around the world saw
the animal up close and personal, usually a rarity with
Bighorn Sheep. The ram even starred in a “YouTube”
video charging a truck.
One of the last surviving animals from the Sinks
Canyon herd, the sheep had become habituated to
people over the years. People petting and feeding
the animal didn’t help and Wyoming Game and
Fish Department and Sinks Canyon State Park staff
attempts to get him to stay away from roads and other
populated areas didn’t work.
before someone got hurt or he got hit by a vehicle.”
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department lured him
into a trailer early in the morning last week and then
transported him to his new home.
“He is still a wild animal and had become more
aggressive as the summer went on,” Hot Springs State
Park Superintendent Darrel Trembly said. “He had
started chasing people, cornering them against fences
and butting vehicles. It was only a matter of time
“It went as smoothly as any transplant could,” said
Kent Schmidlin of the Wyoming Game and Fish
Lander Region Office. “Now hopefully he can be with
other wild sheep and live like he is supposed to.”
A Cave Adventure
On Saturday, August 22, Sinks Canyon State Park hosted a Kids
Xtreme event, a cave exploration, for nearly 80 kids and parents
whose ages ranged from 4 to 72.
Five different groups spent up to an hour exploring "Boulder Choke
Cave" under the direction of SPHS staff and volunteers.
The staff at Sinks Canyon State Park thank all the folks involved in
providing a unique outdoor experience for everyone who participated.
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STATE PARKS CONTINUED
Legend Rock Visitor’s Center
The Legend Rock Visitor’s Center near Thermopolis is getting electricity soon and will be open to the public by spring!
Oct 6th at Medicine Lodge
The snow has now melted, but we had 4-6 inches, and 8 degrees for a temp one morning.
Video Series at Bear River State Park
Bear River State Park recently partnered with the
Uinta County Library to preview the video series, “The
National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” The six-video
series, directed by Ken Burns and written and coproduced by Dayton Duncan, was previewed by area
residents in late September at the Bear River Travel
Information Center. The week-long series then aired
on PBS beginning on September 27. Visit http://
www.pbs.org/nationalparks/watch-video/#642 to
see a selection of clips from the documentary.
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STATE PARKS CONTINUED
Hunting season at Medicine Lodge 2009
Pictures of the variety of different hunting camps this year.
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STATE PARKS CONTINUED
WY Youth Congress highlighted in Huffington Post
“Blame it on the Tetons to actually let kids share their
opinions. Maybe the kids will tell us what society
is doing wrong and why they prefer television over
camping. Over the next three days, October 15th18th, youth from all 48 Wyoming school districts
are convening for the Wyoming Youth Congress on
Children & Nature through the Teton Science School.
The conference focuses on the children of Wyoming
and how to keep them in touch with their “outer”
youth. The Congress has a touchingly local approach,
allowing kids to share their concerns and then
create an “Action Plan” for implementing projects
and reporting back on success. Their findings will
be reported to the Governor’s office and the State
Department of Education.”
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
deanna-neil/growing-movement-to-get-k_b_32
2760.html
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
Castaneda Wins Historical Society Award
The Wyoming State Historical Society recently
honored residents and organizations across the state
as recipients of awards presented at the society’s 56th
annual meeting in Powell. Sue
Castaneda of SPCR’s PIO office,
won first place in the Audio Video
Documentary Award for her oral
history project titled “How Are
You Doing in Vietnam: The Lost
Tapes of Captain William B.
Graves and Family.”
Castaneda and Mark Junge, Cheyenne author,
historian and former SPCR employee, also won an
honorable mention in the Audio-Video Documentary
category for their join project titled “Wyoming
Lincoln Bicentennial Minutes.”
Each year, the society recognizes residents and groups
statewide for their contributions to
Wyoming’s history.
http://wyospcr.state.wy.us/Stories/Graves.asp
Captain William B. Graves
6
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Dear SPCR employees,
These past few months have been some of the most eventful (and memorable!) I’ve been fortunate to be a part
of as Director.
On Sept. 24 and 25 the WY Arts Council held the second statewide Arts Summit. This follow-up to the first
summit held two years ago in Casper focused on the “nuts and bolts” of “cultivating creative communities”
through the arts. Attendees heard an inspiring keynote address from First Lady Nancy Freudenthal and learned
about such things as putting on community arts festivals and working with community business and government
leaders in ensuring a “place at the table” for the arts at the community level.
On Sept. 26 the Parks, Historic Sites & Trails division was recognized for leading the development of new trails
at Curt Gowdy State Park that were given the top “Epic” designation by the International Mountain Biking
Association.
During the first week of October, we hosted the annual Mountain Plains Museum Association Conference in
Cheyenne. By all accounts, it was a very successful conference and 300 museum directors from their 10 state
region attended, including several from Wyoming. I was gratified that the WY location made it possible for
many more Wyoming museum directors and employees attend than would have otherwise been possible.
Finally, our agency, along with the other state and federal land management agencies that comprise the WY
Recreation Action Team (REACT) sponsored the first ever “Youth Outdoors Congress”. This historic event
brought two eighth graders from every Wyoming school district to the Teton Science Schools in Jackson
for four days in October. It was a groundbreaking approach to the “Children in Nature” issue in that it was
orchestrated to put kids on center stage and give them opportunities to share their perspective, opinions and
advice to us adults on the nature of the issue and how to address it.
2011, 2012 Biennial Budget Request
The final version of our biennial budget request has been submitted to the governor’s office. The governor
approved our exception requests for funding support for our Dept. Volunteer program, for continuing
involvement with the WY Conservation Corps, for O&M funding for new facilities, and one-time equipment
purchases among other requests. The next step will be to testify on the proposed budget to the Joint
Appropriations Committee prior to the 2010 legislative “budget” session.
One major positive development so far is that, during the October State Building Commission meeting, the
Dept. of A&I, Capital Construction requested re-instatement of the $3.6 million in formula funding for major
maintenance for our facilities and roads and the State Building Commission (the five statewide elected officials)
voted to approve their request! The $3.6 had been originally approved as part of last year’s supplemental
budget, but had been cut during the 10% budget reduction process.
According to the latest state revenue projections, the 10% cuts will stand, but will not likely need to be
increased.
continued ...
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DIRECTOR’S CORNER CONTINUED
Hiring freeze, Travel and Spending Restrictions
I appreciate everyone’s effort to hold the line on these items as we continue to operate in this restricted spending
environment. We also continue to work through the governor’s “exception request” process for requesting to fill
vacant positions.
State Classification & Compensation Overhaul
The State Human Resources overhaul process reached the phase of determining the compensation piece for the
new employee classification system. Domenic Bravo is serving on an advisory committee working on this. I
appreciate all of you who took the time to submit requests for review of the new job classification system. A&I
will be announcing the results of the review process by the end of November.
Legislature
As part of its “interim topics” process, the Travel Recreation Wildlife and Cultural Resources joint legislative
committee approved two pieces of draft legislation for consideration during the upcoming session. The first on
“State Park boundaries” would remove legal descriptions of certain parks and historic sites from statute while
giving us the authority to describe the boundaries through rules and regulation. It would also “declare” all of our
other parks and historic sites in statute.
The second would allow us to dispose of small properties that we own but don’t manage without requiring
legislative approval, provided that the properties in question do not comply with the department’s mission.
At their upcoming meeting in Saratoga I will be testifying regarding our involvement with the new Statewide
Tourism Master Plan and will participate in a discussion regarding our agency’s potential involvement in
helping the WY Dept. of Game & Fish deal with the serious issue of managing the prevention of aquatic
invasive species.
Keep up the great work!
I couldn’t be more proud of all of you and your ongoing accomplishments, including those profiled in this latest
department newsletter. Keep up the great work!
Respectfully,
Milward Simpson, Director
8
STATE MUSEUM
Mountain-Plains Museum Association Conference
“A New Cork in an Old Flask – A ‘Simpson Eye’
View of the West.” The luncheon was held October 8.
These well-known, Western icons reflected on
the tensions, the triumphs and the turbulence of
Wyoming’s colorful history. They spoke to the
paradoxes the “cowboy state” faces as it wrestles to
reconcile its old west legacy with the challenges of
the new world.
Additionally, Senator Mike Enzi was honored for
his support of museums in Wyoming and around the
nation.
Former Senator Al Simpson and brother Dr. Pete
Simpson speak at the MPMA Conference. Click the link
to hear their talk: (Part 1) http://cheyennewy.podbean.
com/mf/play/uy8xhb/Simpsons_mixdownpart1.mp3
(Part 2) http://cheyennewy.podbean.com/mf/play/
s52bn/Simpsons_mixdownpart2.mp3
Samuel M. Trautman of Snowy Range Graphics in
Laramie was the luncheon sponsor.
On Oct. 7, art historian Gordon McConnell spoke at
the ArtsCom Luncheon. McConnell, former senior
curator at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings,
presented, “The Avant Garde in Charlie Russell
Country: Building the Montana Collection at the
Yellowstone Art Museum.”
Listen to Milward Simpson’s discussion at the MPMA
Conference: http://cheyennewy.podbean.com/mf/play/
cb85s5/MilwardSimpsonMPMASpeech.mp3
Museum professionals from 10 western states traveled
to Cheyenne Oct. 5-8 where they discussed a variety
of historic and museum related issues during the
Mountain-Plains Museums Association conference at
the Holiday Inn.
He discussed how the art of the West is not just about
cowboys and Indians or sublime mountain vistas.
He pointed out that romantic realism and academic
impressionism, though still widely practiced and
celebrated, are not the only styles of art produced in
this rapidly changing region.
More than 250 museum staff, volunteers and board
members attended the conference to discuss the latest
developments in the museum field. Milward Simpson,
director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks
and Cultural Resources, was the conference chairman.
The realm of Western Art was also discussed during
a session titled, “The role of Western Art in America:
Sidebar or Mainstream.”
Included in the conference were tours of a variety
of Laramie and Albany county museums, historic
buildings and archaeological venues.
Three western scholars, Bruce Eldredge, Buffalo
Bill Historical Center, Cody; Thomas Smith, Petrie
Institute of Western American Art, Denver; and Adam
Duncan Harris, Ph.D., National Museum of Wildlife
Art, Jackson, discussed how western art is as diverse
as the region itself and why western art collections
have been given more priority and higher profile by
collectors in recent decades.
The conference was highlighted by the Leadership
Luncheon which featured Former Senator Alan
K. Simpson and University of Wyoming Political
Science Professor Dr. Peter Simpson, who presented
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STATE MUSEUM CONTINUED
Lecture Series
Lecture: Seeking the Dutchman’s Lost
Treasure
Lecture: Lester C. Hunt
Speaker: Rick Ewig, American Heritage Center,
Laramie, WY
Description: Lester C. Hunt was one of Wyoming’s
most popular politicians from the 1930s to the 1950s.
A Democrat, he never lost an election. Twice he
served as Wyoming’s secretary of state, six years as
the state’s governor, and one term as a U.S. Senator.
Hunt is credited with the idea for the bucking bronco
which has resided on the state’s license plates since
the 1930s. He served as governor during World War
II, and during his term in the U.S. Senate he witnessed
firsthand the excesses of McCarthyism. Rick Ewig’s
talk will examine the partisan atmosphere in the U.S.
Senate during the early 1950s and the events which
led to Hunt’s suicide in his senate office on June 19,
1954.
Date: December 10, 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Wyoming State Museum, Multi-Purpose
Room
Cost: Free and open to the public
Contact: 777-7022
Speaker: Bob Willis, Fort Collins, CO
Description: Is there anyone who hasn’t read about
and been enthralled by the famous Lost Dutchman
Mine in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains? Bob
Willis, a television travel pioneer and freelance travel
journalist, has carried his cameras to every continent
and nearly 90 countries. About a dozen years ago,
Bob moved to Arizona and linked up with a team
of treasure seekers who had spent over 35 years
researching (and searching for) the famous mine. Is
the treasure real? You bet it is! Bob will share with us
the history of and the many attempts to locate the lost
mine. Most importantly, he’ll share with us where the
mine isn’t.
Date: November 12, 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Wyoming State Museum, Multi-Purpose
Room
Cost: Free and open to the public
Contact: 777-7022
Second Annual “Night at the Museum”
Halloween Event
Children can enjoy a safe and educational Halloween evening while
meeting some of Wyoming’s most famous characters at the State
Museum’s, “A night at the Museum,” from 2 to 5 p.m., October 31.
Children and their families will meet a variety of characters from
Wyoming’s past while touring the State Museum’s galleries.
During the afternoon, children will get a chance to visit with each
character and ask them about their role in the history of the Cowboy State.
Each child that talks to a character will receive a bag of Halloween Treats.
This event is for all ages and children must be accompanied by an adult.
10
STATE MUSEUM CONTINUED
New Traveling Exhibits
Two new traveling exhibits are now available from
the Wyoming State Museum and are available to
museums, libraries and other cultural institutions
throughout the state.
and historic panels of historic photographs. This
exhibit is available November 1.
The Wyoming State Museum makes a variety of
traveling exhibits available to venues statewide.
Borrowers are encouraged to use materials and
objects from their own collections and community to
augment the exhibits.
The two new exhibits, “West Across the Skies,” and
“Paper or Plastic?” are two-dimensional exhibits that
consist of photographs, illustrations and text.
“West Across the Skies,” discusses the history of early
aviation in Wyoming from 1911 to 1950. The exhibit
includes 40, 16X20 inch and 20X24 inch panels
of historic photographs. This exhibit is currently
available.
There is no charge for this program, but borrowers
are responsible for paying shipping costs and provide
reasonable security for the traveling exhibits.
For more information about this and other Wyoming
State Museum traveling exhibits, please contact
Manny Vigil at 307-777-7025.
“Paper or Plastic?” examines the history of the retail
sales of food in Wyoming from the late 19th century
to the present. This exhibit includes 30, 16X20 text
11
STATE HISTORIC SITES
Gold Rush Days Vintage Base Ball
The winning team from Hudson (above), champs of
the 9th annual Vintage Base Ball Tournament held
at South Pass City State Historic Site in connection
with Gold Rush Days. It was the second team title
for Hudson, as they captured the team title in the
inaugural event in 2001. The teams play games with
authentic 1900 uniforms, equipment and rules.
Tournament champions through the years:
2001 - Hudson
2002 - Riverton
2003 - Lander
2004 - Lander
2005 - Riverton
2006 - Lander
2007 - Lander
2008 - Riverton
2009 - Hudson
Team scores from the 2009 tournament
(double elimination):
Saturday:
Hudson 9, South Pass City 5
Lander 2, Riverton 0
South Pass City 11, Riverton 3 (Riverton eliminated)
Hudson 7, Lander 1
Sunday:
Lander 10, South Pass City 2 (South Pass City
eliminated)
Lander 15, Hudson 0
Hudson 9, Lander 8 (Championship game)
2009 Hudson team members: John Horne, Serol
Stauffenberg, Scott Keele, Erik Baker, Bruce Knell,
Dennis Schurg, Ray Puroll, Rich Matson, Jim Race,
Matt Johnson, Zach Matson.
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STATE HISTORIC SITES CONTINUED
Wild West Ghosts
By Lynette Nelson
It’s that time of year again when trees stand bare
and open as a cool wind whips around their skeletal
frames. When night falls, a chill runs up our spines
and our senses become alert to the things that go
bump in the night, to ghosts and witches and creatures
that dwell in our imagination. Legends and stories of
hauntings fill our heads, for it is Halloween.
Ghosts, the main attraction during this season, come
in all shapes and sizes and from all corners of the
earth and beyond. Some are in the shape of an orb,
some are only a vapor or mist, while others take on a
humanly shape with features. And at the Wyoming
Territorial Prison State Historic Site, the ghosts wear
cowboy hats and carry a gun.
During the month of October, Ghost Tours of Laramie
City, which is sponsored by the Wyoming Territorial
Park Historic Association, take visitors, or should
I say victims, on an adventure like none other. For
one and a half hours the guests are transported back
in time to the year 1868 when Laramie had its first
giddy beginnings. As guests travel on a hayride
through historic downtown Laramie, they become
acquainted with the ghost from Laramie’s past and
learn why these former residents refuse to leave or to
be forgotten.
The tour ends with a candlelight tour through the
Wyoming Territorial Prison. As you walk through the
dark passages you may meet Julius Greenwald, one of
only two prisoners to die at the prison.
Experience for yourself what life was like for
prisoners in the untamed Wyoming wilderness and
the wild west town called Laramie. Tour dates for
this year’s Ghost Tours are: October 16, 22, 23, 24,
29, 30 and 31. Tickets are $10 per person and go on
sale October 1. If you would like more information
on Ghost Tours of Laramie please call the Wyoming
Territorial Prison State Historic Site at 745-6161.
A scary night at the Wyoming Territorial Prison.
13
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month
Department of Anthropology foyer followed and
featured a book signing by Drs. George Frison, Mary
Lou Larson and Marcel Kornfeld, authors of the
newly released “Hell Gap, A Stratified Paleoindian
Campsite at the Edge of the Rockies.”
Crossroads of a Nation Moving West
In an effort “to better acquaint the public with the
discipline of archaeology and strengthen the enduring
bond between past and present in the Equality State,”
Gov. Dave Freudenthal proclaimed September
Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month during a
brief ceremony in his office on August 26.
I
n the spring of 1834, “Fort William on the Laramie” was established by fur traders William Sublette and Robert Campbell as a stockade made from cottonwood logs. In 1841, a replacement structure, “Fort John,”
was built using adobe bricks, a more substantial construction medium. In 1849, the U. S. Army bought the structure and established a military post that became known as “Fort Laramie,” an army post that existed
until 1890. “Fort William/John/Laramie” remains the longest continuously occupied Euroamerican location in the state. The fort is currently managed by the National Park Service as a National Historic Site.
Archaeological work at Fort Laramie has contributed much to our knowledge about life on the frontier of a nation moving west.
Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist, National Park Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Army National Guard, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration, SWCA Environmental Consultants, Current
Archaeological Research Inc., ASM affiliates, ENTRIX Inc., TRC Environmental Corporation, Western Archaeological Services, engineering-environmental Management Inc., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Department of Transportation, University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology, Wyoming
Association of Professional Archaeologists, Wyoming Archaeological Society.
Watercolor (ca. 1863–1868) by Anton Schonborn courtesy Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library • Graphic design by Elizabeth Ono Rahel
••
S E P T E M B E R 20 0 9
The 2009 WAAM poster is available free of
charge, and may be picked up at the State Historic
Preservation Office, Barrett Building, 2301
Central Avenue in Cheyenne, or in Laramie in the
Anthropology Building located at 12th and Lewis,
Room 312.
Gov. Freudenthal was joined during the proclamation
signing by members of the Wyoming State Historic
Preservation Office, the Office of the Wyoming
State Archaeologist, the U.S. Forest Service and the
National Park Service.
The posters are also available via mail with a $10
charge to cover mailing costs. Limit one poster per
person. Send your request along with a check or
money order payable to “Wyoming Archaeology
Month” and your name and mailing address to: Judy
Wolf, State Historic Preservation Office, Wyoming
Archaeology Month, Dept. 3431, 1000 E. University
Ave., Laramie, WY 82071.
As special guest at this year’s signing was Mitzi
Frank, superintendent of Ft. Laramie National
Historic Site, which is celebrating its 175th
anniversary and is featured on this year’s WAAM
poster.
Gov. Freudenthal was presented with a framed copy
of this year’s poster.
The 2009 WAAM t-shirts and caps are available at
the State Museum Store in Cheyenne, or via http://
wyoshpo.state.wy.us/aamonth/pdf/orderform.pdf.
The WAAM celebration included the 11th Annual
George C. Frison Institute of Archaeology and
Anthropology sponsored lecture, “Chocolate (Cacao)
and Culture in Prehispanic Mesoamerica,” by Janine
Gasco, professor of Anthropology at California State
University, Dominquez Hills.
The lecture was held at the University of Wyoming
Ag Auditorium on September 24. A reception in the
Wyoming Archaeology
Awareness Month
Short-sleeved shirts are available at a cost of $15.
Shirts in sizes 2XL are available for an additional
$1.50. Long-sleeved shirts are available for $22. Add
$1.50 for size 2XL. Caps are available for $15.
Proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts and caps are
used to help fund WAAM activities.
14
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE CONTINUED
Historic Mine Trail Dedication
A ceremony dedicating interpretive signs along the
Gold Flakes to Yellowcake Historic Mine Trail was
held at South Pass City State Historic Site’s Carissa
Mine on September 10. An informal drive of the
Mine Trail followed.
in the 1860s. The Historic Mine Trail exposes this
story by linking gold mines to uranium mines and
connects the boom and bust experience of the 1870s
to the 1970s.
The Historic Mine Trail and Byway program was
established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2005. The
program was created for the purpose of designating
and identifying historic mine locations and trails
and byways linking historic mines within the state.
Objectives of the program are to 1) provide a precise
history of mineral development in Wyoming; 2)
Interpret the role of mining and minerals in the
development of Wyoming's economy; 3) Identify and
describe Wyoming's mining and mineral development
heritage.
In 2005, the Wyoming Legislature established the first
Historic Mine Trail, which connects the gold mines
of the Sweetwater Mining District in the South Pass
City area to the Uranium mines of the Gas Hills. The
Historic Mine Trail links significant areas of mineral
development in Western Wyoming.
Throughout much of the state’s history, mining has
played an important role in Wyoming’s economy.
Traditionally, Wyoming has been reliant on
mining activities and its relation to cultural and
environmental effects on the state.
For more information please contact Laura Nowlin,
Mine Trail and Byway Program coordinator, at
[email protected] or 307-777-6179.
Mineral development in Wyoming has followed a
boom and bust cycle since the first discovery of gold
15
STATE ARCHIVES
Disaster Recovery Workshop
A free two-part workshop on the protection and
recovery of documents, records and information was
held October 2 in Cheyenne.
the best possible outcome. Participants learned how to
be the key to their disaster recovery.
Part two of the workshop was “Media Mix and
Conversions.” Choosing the appropriate media
mix for your organization's information involves
understanding the benefits, costs, and risks of the
media available.
The Wyoming Chapter of ARMA International
in partnership with the Wyoming State Archives
sponsored the workshop.
The first part of the workshop was “Disaster Planning
and Recovery.” A disaster is any event that creates
an inability on the part of an organization to execute
business functions for a period of time.
In this session, participants explored paper, microfilm,
and digital media applications. Participants were
able to evaluate their information needs from six
different perspectives in order to determine the best
media choice for their records as it moves through
the information life cycle. Media conversions are
expensive challenges.
Disasters will affect your records. As documents and
information are necessary to successfully recover
from a disaster, you must put protocols in place to
ensure their protection and recovery when a disaster
strikes. Only a fully trained recovery team can assure
Wyoming Blue Books
The Wyoming “Blue Books,” a comprehensive
guide to the state’s history from pre-territorial days
to 2007, can now be ordered in CD form. The Blue
Book CDs are available in a five volume gift set at
a cost of $35.
legislation, historical articles, information on
government agencies, historical photographs and
much more.
Individual hard copies of volumes I through V are
available for $25 each. The complete five-volume
set can be purchased for $75. All prices include
shipping and handling.
These comprehensive guides to Wyoming history
and government are essential reference books for
federal, state, county and city government offices,
school libraries, personal libraries, businesses and
industries.
The Blue Books can be purchased at the Archives
offices, or by sending a request and payment to
Wyoming State Archives, Barrett Building, 2301
Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002. Credit card
orders can also be taken at 307-777-7826.
Included in the volumes are historical timelines,
biographies of elected officials, election results,
16
STATE ARCHIVES CONTINUED
State Archives Provides Valuable
Hansen Interviews to Media
After the recent death of former Wyoming Governor
and Senator Cliff Hansen, the Wyoming State
Archives was an invaluable resource to the news
media providing both audio and photos.
Digitalized audio and transcripts from an oral history
done in 1977 were offered to all newspapers, radio
and television stations across the state. This interview
was conducted by John Hinckley, a former political
science professor at Northwest College in Powell.
As well, thanks to a recent grant from the Wyoming
Cultural Trust Fund, a new series of oral histories
are being done which included one with Cliff and
Martha Hansen done in late September, 2009 by
former SPCR employee Mark Junge. Not only were
the photos and audio made available to the media, but
also the Wyoming Tribune Eagle asked Junge to write
a feature piece about his interview with Hansen -- the
last official interview given.
Many of the media outlets were thrilled to learn of
the resource that the Wyoming State Archives could
provide and used the photos for newspaper stories and
radio features.
You can listen to a podcast of the first day's interview
between Hansen and Junge at artsparkshistory.com.
Congratulations
Reference Room. Robin received a B.A. in History
at UW last year with the goal of beginning a career in
Public History. Robin is as well-known for her sense
of humor and practical jokes as she is for her ability
to dig up information on someone’s past. Please
congratulate Robin when you have a chance.
Robin Everett has accepted the position of Processing
Archivist for the State Archives. Robin interned at
the Archives off-site facility, Archives South, prior
to joining the agency in the Archives’ Micrographics
Unit. For the past year, she has served as the
receptionist and reference assistant in the Archives’
17
ARTS COUNCIL
WAC Poetry Reading
at Casper College
Arts Summit 2009
The Wyoming Arts Council, in cooperation of the
Casper College Literary Conference, will conduct
an Oct. 10 poetry reading by the WAC’s new
creative writing fellowship winners.
Fellowship recipients are Sam Renken from
Laramie, Lori Van Pelt of Saratoga and Casper poet
David Zoby. They will read their award-winning
work with fellowship judge Greg Pape of Missoula,
Mont. The free event is on Saturday, Oct. 10, 1:30
p.m., at the Izaak Walton Clubhouse, 4205 Fort
Caspar Rd., Casper.
Keynote Speaker First Lady Nancy Freudenthal
Preceding the reading at noon Saturday will be a
free chili lunch provided by members of the Casper
College Literary Conference planning committee.
The 23rd annual literary conference takes place
Oct. 8-10. It includes writing workshops by Jackson
novelist Tim Sandlin, globe-trotting journalist and
author William Powers of New York, South Dakota
essayist and poet Linda Hasselstrom and Greg Pape,
Montana Poet Laureate. Fee is $60 per workshop.
Free events include 7:30 p.m. author talks on
Thursday and Friday in the college’s Durham Hall,
the WAC fellowship reading and chili feed on
Saturday, and a poetry slam at 9 p.m. Saturday at
Metro Coffee Company, 241 S. David in downtown
Casper.
Mayors & their Creative Communities Session: Duane
Evenson - Mayor of Gillette, Rick Kaysen - Mayor of
Cheyenne, John Zeiger - Mayor of Saratoga
For more conference information, contact Terry
Rasmussen in the Casper College English Dept.,
307-268-2480. To register for workshops, call
Ann Dalton, 307-268-2085. You can also go to the
Casper College web site at www.caspercollege.edu.
The Wyoming Arts Council held the Arts Summit,
Sept. 24-25 at Little America in Cheyenne.
The Summit featured sessions by renowned experts
exploring linkages among the arts, government,
community development, economic prosperity
and business.
To find out more about the Arts Council’s programs
for individual artists, contact Mike Shay at 307777-5234 or [email protected].
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ARTS COUNCIL CONTINUED
2009 Biennial Fellowship Exhibition
The work of six Wyoming artists will be featured
Nov. 5, through Jan. 9, at the 2009 Biennial
Fellowship Exhibition at the Wyoming State Museum
Gallery in the Barrett Building, 2301 Central Ave., in
Cheyenne.

Wyoming Arts Council
Biennial
Fellowship
Exhibition
An opening reception will be held on Thursday, Nov.
5, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the State Museum.
Fellowship judge Lawrence Argent, sculptor and art
professor at University of Denver will speak. The
public is invited to come out and meet the artists and
see their work. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be
provided.
Featuring fellowship recipients from the
The exhibit showcases the work of the 2008 and
2009 Wyoming Arts Council fellowship recipients:
Matt Flint, Lander; Leah Hardy, Laramie; David
Henderson, Worland; Ricki Klages, Laramie;
Florence Alfano McEwin, Green River; and Doug
Russell, Laramie.
2008 and 2009 fellowship competitions
Nov. 5, 2009 through Jan. 9, 2010
Opening reception on
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Wyoming State Museum
Fellowship Artists:
Barrett Building
2301 Central Ave.
Cheyenne, Wyoming
307-777-7022
Matt Flint, Lander
Museum hours:
Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Closed Sundays and State
and Federal Holidays
Each year, the Wyoming Arts Council awards visual
arts fellowships to three artists in the state. Every two
years, the WAC honors its fellowship winners with an
exhibition at one of Wyoming’s fine art galleries or
museums.
Leah Hardy, Laramie
David Henderson, Worland
Ricki Klages, Laramie
Florence Alfano McEwin, Green River
The exhibition is a project of the Arts Council and the
State Museum. The reception is co-sponsored by the
Cabot Creamery Cooperative of Vermont.
Doug Russell, Laramie
For more information on the WAC and fellowships
for individual artists, contact Mike Shay at 307777-5234 or go to the WAC web site at www.
wyomingartscouncil.org.
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UPDATE ON OUR MILITARY
Shyan K. Corso (daughter of Mike Corso,
IT Webmaster), was recently promoted to Army Staff
Sergeant (E-6). She is currently stationed in South
Korea and recently took a tour of the DMZ - The most
closely guarded border in the world separating North
and South Korea. This is her second tour in South
Korea having just finished a year long deployment
in Iraq. Shyan’s tour of duty ends next year and she
plans to attend college at the University of Wyoming
majoring in meteorology.
SPCR
Two Employees Can Now Call Themselves Marathoners
Sara Needles, Cultural Administrator, and Sue Castaneda, Public
Information, both recently completed their first marathons. Needles
ran in the Denver Marathon with approximately 9,000 other runners
on October 18th in Denver while Castaneda ran in the Marine Corps
Marathon with nearly 30,000 runners in Washington D.C. on the
25th. Both said it was definitely a worthwhile experience but are
currently looking into signing up for a yoga class together.
Sara Needles
Sue Castaneda
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GREEN PAGE
A Pat on the Back, Goin’ Green and Savin’ the Green
One of the many services the Archives offers is Photo
Scans. If possible, we use e-mail to send the scans to
customers. However, when there are multiple photos,
we use CDs and mail the scanned images.
To save the department, Cindy switched from using
the Plastic CD cases (which cost $7.14 for a pack of
30 or approx. 29 cents each) to using the paper CD
sleeve (which cost $7 for a box of 50 or 14 cents
each).
These Blue Book CDs were shipped to us in paper
CD sleeves. Suzi has made certain the sleeves
are being saved so we can use them in mailing
CDs. So we have the potential of 4,000 recyclable
sleeves! This is a savings of $560 for the program.
[(4000/50=80X7=560)]
Through an ongoing partnership (since 2004) with the
Laramie County School District #1 Special Services
Transition Program Cindy has a special needs student
assembling the CD sets. This is at no cost to the
department, and provides employment opportunities
to the student. Here again saving the department/
program money.
Earlier this year Volume V of the Wyoming Blue
Book was published. A new feature with this volume
was to include a CD copy with the book. An added
feature for the digitally minded new generation is,
the previous 4 volumes were scanned and put in CD
format. One thousand CDs of each volume were
ordered.
Green Move Out GW wins the Washington Business Journal
“Green Business Award” for innovation!
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/10/12/tidbits6.html
Congratulations to Dayna Wolter (daughter of Barb
Wolter, Micrographics Technician in Archives) for
helping with this successful event!
Remember moving-out day in college? All those
dumpsters overflowing with old egg crates, crumpled
posters and the endless boxes of all the other stuff
college students didn’t feel like carting home for the
summer.
To prevent those things from being part of the river
of junk flowing into landfills, a team at The George
Washington University figured out a way around that
annual wasteful exodus: Instead of throwing away
perfectly good items, give them to people who can
use them.
The Green Move-Out program is a coordinated, joint
effort of students, administration staff and businesses
that concentrates on three areas.
See Dayna’s interview under the Media column
on the right.
First, the team organized donation boxes to collect
continued ...
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GREEN PAGE CONTINUED
Green Move Out GW wins the Washington Business
Journal “Green Business Award” continued ...
resident hall clothing, food and household goods,
which were then channeled to groups like Bread for
the City, So Others Might Eat, the National Children’s
Center, the Capital Area Food Bank and animal
shelters.
from landfills to people who could use the items —
was lost. Junk and donations suddenly co-mingled.
There was stuff that didn’t have a good destination.
For example, take linens. Each year, students give
the heave-ho to pounds and pounds of bed linens. Yet
very few homeless shelters are willing to take slepton blankets and sheets. But surely someone could use
good sheets and blankets, right?
The second component focused on e-cycling, where
students could drop off electronic devices at a central
campus location.
Through lots of phone calls, the team uncovered
the answer: animal shelters. Rescued dogs and cats
need blankets to sleep on, and the pet shelters were
more than happy to receive the blankets. It was a
two-pronged victory, in fact, as the shelters also
were happy to take cleaning products that otherwise
would have been dumped down drains and into the
watershed.
The last piece was a book drive, for both textbooks
and general interest books. Donation boxes were used
to collect reading material for the Books for Africa
program.
The concept itself was a simple one, but executing it
was another matter.
When the Green Move-Out began, it was more of
a nice idea than a methodically planned project. As
a result, items wouldn’t actually get into the hands
of people who could use them. There was either too
much of a certain kind of thing for a small group
with limited storage space to take on, or it just wasn’t
something a group could use.
Over the years, project leaders have sought out and
developed partnerships that have helped solve the
complexities of execution.
When it came to execution, Moving Masters Inc.,
a company that handles many of the university’s
moves, donated trucks, drivers and boxes to haul the
donations.
“You’d be surprised,” said Matt Trainum, committee
co-chair and director of housing programs at GWU.
“There are tons of places that don’t take ‘blank’ or
‘blank’ or ‘blank.’”
After all the time spent thinking the process through,
the 2009 numbers speak for themselves: 50,537
pounds of food, 2,179 pounds of furniture, 2,169 bags
of clothing.
Help came in the form of adding some professional
punch to the student efforts, Trainum says. The
program reached a turning point when the university
staff committed to get involved.
The program has become woven into the student and
administrative fabric at GW. Trainum boils it down it
to a simple philosophy: “Sustainability isn’t what we
do, but it is the way we do things.”
In addition, the team had learned that “there are
complexities of doing good work,” Trainum says.
Without advance planning and troubleshooting, the
main intention of the program — to reroute trash
22
GREEN PAGE CONTINUED
If you know of a co-worker who
deserves a little recognition
for being conscientious about
conservation in their attitude
and in their practices, here is
your chance to be sure they are
acknowledged for their efforts.
TO
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Nominate them for
the “BIG GREEN AWARD”!
This award will be given every three months to
a deserving SPCR employee who has exhibited
“green” behavior or who continually makes
an effort to make us a more environmentally
sustainable agency.
Nomination forms are available at http://
wyospcr.state.wy.us/intranet/greenteam.htm
and should be sent via e-mail to Lisa Koenig
for consideration (no printed paper copies
will be accepted).
The green committee will review all
nominations at the end of every three months to
determine who the most deserving recipient is.
Not only will the award winner make their co-workers green with envy, but
they will also become the keeper of the “BIG GREEN TRAVELING TROPHY”.
Please submit your nominations no later than December 1st.
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