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SHELTON WA 98584-2263
April 9, 2015 Newcastle, Wyoming Year 129 Week 15
Spinnin' Minion
Denice Pisciotti/NLJ
Weston County Health Services found creative ways to direct potential customers to the new pharmacy that opened in
Washington Plaza last week.
Wyo business tour here next week
Alexis Shultz
NLJ Reporter
The •Wyoming Business Alliance is
interested in hearing ideas about business
and economic growth from residents of
all of Wyoming's 23 counties, and as part
of the effort to generate that input, repre-
sentatives of the agency will be in Weston
County next week.
"Wyoming celebrates its 125th birthday
this year. This landmark anniversary of
statehood is an ideal time to reflect on the
future of Wyoming communities. We share
the goal of keeping Wyoming's economic
engines running for a sustainable future
- but the question is how to get there,"
states an invitation from the Office of the
Governor addressing the "Tour 23" initia-
tive that is intended specifically to answer
that question.
The Wyoming Business Alliance has
created "Tour 23"' and representatives of
the organization say it is designed to begin
conversations in 23 counties. Wyoming
Business Alliance Vice President Fred
Catchpole informed the News Letter
Journal that the tour will actually involve
24 locations and reports because two meet-
ings are scheduled for Lincoln County.
Weston County has been selected for
the second stop on the tour, and the
session here will be held at the Upton
Community Center on April 15. It begins
with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by
the actual program, which starts at 8:00
a.m. and ending at noon. Those who
-- See Tour, Page 3
City okays rec
center study
Alexis Shultz
NLJ Reporter
On Monday night, the
Newcastle City Council agreed
to sign on as a sponsor for a
grant for a feasability study
to look into the idea of a com-
munity or recreation center. The
council sponsored the grant
application at the request of
Mrs. Wyoming, Priscilla Pruitt,
and her husband, Scan, but
Newcastle Mayor Greg James
made it clear to the council that
sponsoring the study involves
no financial commitment or city
monies. He also clarified thai
city staff will in no way be
involved in the writing of the
grant.
"As long as they are making
the commitment, we should
at least sponsor the grant,"
expressed James.
Scan Pruitt explained, th
the purpose of this study if
to determine what would best
work for our community in
regards to a recreation or com-
munity center. He added that the
study will also look at existing
-- See City, Page 7
A new view on art
Denice Pisciotti
NLJ Reporter
A number of suggestions were made about ways to incorporate
more art at Newcastle Elementary School at a Weston County
School District #1 Board of Trustees meeting early last month, and
since then Superintendent Brad LaCroix and the WCSD #1 leader;
ship team have been developing a plan to better instruct elementary
students in art.
The WCSD #1 Administrative Team first had to determine if the
district would be able to continue to offer art at its current level to
older classes next year, and LaCroix told'the board at last week's
meeting that class schedules for the 2015-2016 school year are still
being arranged, but the plan is to keep as many elective classes as
possible at both Newcastle High School and Newcastle Middle
School.
When it comes to art in the grade school, however, hiring a
specific instructor to teach art in the school is not likely, but the
superintendent suggested the district could do a better job of
teaching a different quality of art by taking a new approach.
-- See Art, Page 7
Feds put FOCUS on crime victim week
Alexis Shultz
NLJ Reporter
FOCUS Director Donna Howard was proud
to announce to both the Newcastle City Council
and the Weston County Commissioners that the
organization had received a federal grant through
the Victims of Crime at the Office of Justice
Program at the U.S. Department of Justice in
order to host an event on April 21 for Victims
Crime Awareness Week.
"About a year ago, I wrote the grant," Howard
explained, noting that Newcastle was lucky
enough to be one of the two grants awarded in the
State of Wyoming. A total of only 90 grants were
awarded throughout the entire nation.
She explained to the commissioners that the
grant is aimed at addressing a topic that is not the
easiest to discuss, and that her reason for applying
for the grant was her desire to bring FOCUS, the
Foundation of Caring, Understanding Services,
more visible in the community.
"The purpose of the event is to make people
aware that crime happens all the time, and that
we are partners with crime no matter what,
whether it's a family member or a friend" pro-
claimed Howard.
For the event, Howard and her employees
interviewed a variety of groups and individuals
from both Newcastle and Upton. Those people
told their story of crime, and how it has person-
ally affected them. She made it clear that the
organization made sure to discuss the issue
with a variety of people, from a variety of back-
grounds-- including youth, seniors, minorities
and ex-law enforcement.
"From that conversation, we developed a
core board that represents their story," Howard
revealed, adding that these 10 core boards will
be unveiled at the April 21 event, and those
involved in the project will have the opportu-
nity to share their stories. News Letter Journal
Publisher and Editor Bob Bonnar will attend
the event, and has agreed to share the stories of
those that wish to remain anonymous, Howard
revealed.
"I'm especially excited because Newcastle
was awarded one of these federal grants," Howard
beamed.
Commissioner Randy Rossman asked
Howard why she thought Newcastle received
one of the grants, and she jokingly replied that it
was "because she wrote such a wonderful grant,"
before indicating that it was likely because
the federal government was trying to choose
projects that were unusual. She feels that the
plan submitted by FOCUS was very unique in
comparison to others. She also added that a part
of the government's decision could lie in the
fact that her project involved working one-on-
one with people and groups to create the final
presentation.
The event planned by Howard and FOCUS
is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 21,
at 6 p.m at the Weston County Senior Services
Center, but she hopes the core boards will
become a traveling display that can be used
throughout the state.
City wants to install cameras
Alexis Shultz
NLJ Reporter
"We've been experiencing a lot of vandalism,"
declared Mayor Greg James to the Parks and
Recreation Committee meeting that followed the
regularly scheduled meeting of the city council on
April 6th and after little discussion on the topic
City Engineer Bob Hartley received full support
in purchasing and installing cameras at three loca-
tions throughout Newcastle.
"Bob's suggestion is to spend the money and
install some security cameras;' professed James.
Hartley explained that the city had purchased
and installed a security camera at the bathrooms
located at Dow Park and within 24 hours they
had found a member of the youth whom had been
building fires in the sinks. He continued that since
the installation of the camera the vandalism there
has seemed to stop.
"If we have two more cameras, maybe three,"
Hartley reported, adding that this would allow for
one to be installed at the bathrooms at the baseball
field, the bathroom at centennial park, and another
to be installed at the skate park. All of these loca-
tions seem to be prime targets for the vandalism in
the area.
Hartley shared with the committee how the
cameras work, he stated that the cameras record
constantly and when an incident is reported they
can go and access the camera and download the
recording onto a laptop that can then be taken to
the police station for further investigation.
Few issues come with the installation of the
cameras which cost between $3,000 and $4,000.
Issues that will have to be addressed when installing
the cameras include having an electric source to
power the camera, as well as locating the camera
so civilians can not reach and destroy it but where
city employees can access it.
"I think we should go for it Bob, because we've
got to stop this," affirmed Councilwoman Linda
Hunt.
Councilwoman Kara Sweet added that the word
will quickly spread through town that there are
cameras at these locations and that once you set
a precedent that suspects will be caught and you
will face consequences than this should help with
the issue.
"Catching is one thing but prosecution is the
other thing," announced Councilman Todd Quigley.
Mayor James agreed that prosecution is part
of the solution but declared that he does not know
what that will look like with the county attorney
but in his opinion the suspect should be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the law.
The committee came to a general consensus
supporting Hartley and the city crews purchasing
and installing cameras at these three locations
in order to help prevent and solve the large van-
dalism problem that is plaguing the community
we live in.
Photo courtesy of Linda Hunt
City responds to recent vandalism, llke this recent attack on Serenity Trail with plans to
install security cameras in various places around town.
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• Got Gas?, Page 3
• Junk Junipers, Page 6
• Science Stars, Page 8
• Simply the Best, Page 11
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