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Newspaper Archive of
News Letter Journal
Newcastle, Wyoming
September 17, 2020     News Letter Journal
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September 17, 2020
 
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2 — September 17, 2020 news letter journal NEWS editor@newslj.com IS Yllllll MOB?‘ MEASURING IIP amiflsumlaWS really low rates? Call the First State Bank lending team for an analysis of your existing mortgage. There’s no commitment and we may be able to reduce your monthly GBMMIIIII'I'V MIIIIIEII Since 1924 Member FDlfie rsnnewc First State Bank payment or save you interest over the life of your loan. A cusromrn FDBIISEII Since 1924 o F N E W C A S T L E 24 ll. SllMllEII astlenom - 301-146-4411 ’66 LENDER Eight students quarantined Alexis Barker NLJ News Editor As a result of the first confirmed COVID-19 positive test result in a Weston County School District No. 1 student, eight students from Newcastle Middle School are under a, 14-day quarantine after the district worked with local health ofiicials to use contact tracing to help identify students possibly exposed to the student who tested positive. According to a district press release, on Sept. 8 the school was notified of a positive test for a NMS student. ' “Once we were notified by public health officials, we went to work assisting them in their investigation trying to identify students who may have had close contact with the individual diagnosed with COVID-19 during the time frames we were given,” Principal Tyler Bartlett said. “Thankfully, we had anticipated issues like this in the school district and had done some work in advance to make contact tracing a little less cumbersome.” Working with the public health officials is key, according to Bartlett, who helms the 173- student school, and so far, those individuals have been helpful and informative. Both Bartlett and Superintendent Brad LaCroix assured the News Letter Journal that the district had no ability to perform any of the testing, although they would monitor symptoms, if needed. “As a district, we don’t have any say in who gets tested or quarantined and obviously don’t do any testing or diagnosing,” Bartlett said. LaCroix noted that the district will check with students who are exhibiting symptoms, just as they would with any potential illness or issue at any time during any school year. “The school is not making any of the deci— sions. We are just bridging a gap between the school population and the public health officials,” LaCroix said. “We are here to educate from Page 1 ......... .. ‘ kids. The idea that we are pulling kids out and testing them is crazy.” LaCroix added that the rumors spread regarding the procedure are not helping. “If we are going to get through this, we have to believe that no one is out to be the becgeyman,” LaCroix said. Thankfully, Bartlett said, the parents and stu- dents involved in the positive case at the middle school have been patient and understanding. “Nobody wants to miss two weeks of school, 1 but everyone is complying with directions from ; public health and doing everything they can to i keep everyone healthy and safe,” Bartlett said. “Everyone is also putting in a lot of extra work 1 now to try and help students stay caught up and not stress about missed school wor .” Both administrators maintained that the situa- tion showcases the need for the guidelines set by the district and Wyoming Department of Health. “Of course, it serves as a great reminder that COVID-19 is still something we’re battling against, and it reiterates the importance of fol- lowing health guidelines like staying home when ill, washing hands frequently, social distancing and wearing a mask when social distancing 3 is not possible,” Bartlett said. “Hopefully, : we can learn from this situation as the school year continues so we can try to minimize the spread of illness and keep our schools open and our students in attendance. Regardless of any- one’s thoughts on the coronavirus, I think we ‘; can all agree that’s what is best for our students and our community.” Any community members, parents or students with questions or concerns regarding COVID-l9 in the district are encouraged to contact building principals or administration directly. “If you have concerns, you need to reach out to the building principal,” LaCroix said. “We aren’t just talking about COVID; we are talking about any concerns regarding the school.” ........................................................................ .. recorded, Smith reported, range Rancher’s Feed and Supply KASL Radio WC Sports & Western Wear Lunatic’s And a thank you to all the downtown businesses and vendors that set up. as well as anyone else who was involved we may have forgotten! now eligible to apply for emer- gency loans. “This designation allows the [Farm Service Agency] to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters,” the release states. “Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equip- ment or livestock, reorganiza- Both Campbell and Converse counties were designated as primary natural disaster areas by Perdue, the release stated. Anyone suffering losses caused by the drought has until May 4, 2021, to apply for emer- gency funds. FSA will review the applications as they are received and determine loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repay- tion of a farming operation or ment ability. the refinance of certain debts.” Several other programs Several other counties across are available to help farmers the state received the same recover from the impacts designation: Albany, Carbon, Crook, Johnson, Natrona, of this disaster, including the Emergency Assistance for Farm-Raised Fish Program, 1 Emergency Conservation Program, Livestock Forage ’ Disaster Program, Livestock? Indemnity Program, Operating \ and Farm Ownership Loans and the Tree Assistance Program. ‘ The release notes that thesel programs are available without disaster declaration. l Producers are encouraged to I contact their local USDA center ‘3 for information on eligibility) requirements and application processes. Additional informa- tion is also available on the ‘ department’s website at farmers. gov/recover. N from Page 1 .............................................................................. .. ! from 6.74 inches of precipita- , o 0 tion in 1961 to 10.64 inches of HOW S the weather? 1 precipitation in 1952. 0 u r n m The lack of precipitation in Warmest Average Temps Lowest Rainfall Totals . Newcastle, Smith said, is fol- Average Year 6.74 1961 _ _ i . _ ' . lowing a pattern that can be seen 50.8 2012 1960 2 professwnal gathenng and reportmg of Information to soc1ety. When errors in the statistics, 50,1 1934 3,52 1950 g are published, corrections are issued. Investigative journalism reveals hitherto “Wet and dry seasons last 3 ' ' about 10 years in the area,” . . 1 unknown crlme, corruptlon, and wrongdomg. Smith said. Newcastle has been 499 1987 9.69 1985 I i g yet since jabfiout 2008, although 49-9 1938 10.163~ 1954 . , V . _. there. were a fepi grandom 49.7 2006. 198,7; , . 1.. . 1 " 4“ W I , ' ' ‘ " years_ So, i‘nsn’t‘sut'pfismg that V 5" ' ‘" T‘ "‘"‘ 5' we are going into a dry time,” 49.4 1999 10.64 1952 U E T K The lack of precipitation 49-3 1941 ' , . as well as temperature and HIQHESt Snow Totals . other factors play a role in an Coldest Average Temps 78 1911-12 T D 0 I area being designated as in a 43-6 1912 69 1993'94 i L _ drought Smith explained that 44.1 1978 63.5 2018-2019 the overall high temperatures 44-1 1929 62 2005-06 s . . . . seen in the area, accompanied 44-3 1993 58 090940 3 Wyoming Refining Company Newcastle Lodge & Convention Center by the early and late freezes are 44] 1957 55 1996_97 I Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department Black Hills Energy a recipe for drought. 443 2019 54] 1936-37 Tower .1117 t ' . Farnsworth Services «Around May 10 we saw 45.0 1924 53.9 1954-55 5 Wyoming Pipeline Company CLT Flooring and Furnishing freezing temperatures and 45 1982 53.2 2017-18 .4 Bomgaars ‘ Range then the early freeze came last 45-1 1996 52 1974‘75 Woody’s Food Center powder River Energy week. This has killed off a Par Pacific Frontief Home, Ranch and H ar dw a 8 lot of vegetation,» Smith said, 24 ll-lighezggalnfall Totals 5Lowes: gar-15a" Totals First State Bank of Newcastie Weston County Library Foundation explainmg that. dead vegeta- 24-34 1996 16 4 1948-49 Edward Jones investments tion 15 more at risk for fire than I , Undefeated Youth Group . . . 2393 1929 15 1960_61 lsabelta’s and Miner’s on Main w 11V1ng Vegetatlon- , esco Gas Because of this A bulmre 23.88 1998 17.7 1959-60 First State Bank insurance g“ , . Duncan Cox Greta 50m P rdue has 22.9 1923 18.6 2015-16 Cote s Vending Se W Y 6 Madison Townsend desi ated Weston County as 21.31 1986 19.7 1980-81 Wesm" COW“)! Gazette 3“ 20 99 2013 19 8 1961 62 Newcastle Hi h School a contiguous natural disaster ' ' AGED Embrmdery 9 . 20 45 1997 20 8 1945-46 Newcastle Area Chamber of Commerce area, accordlng to a Sept 14 ' ' Pinnacle Bank Newcastle I press release from the US. 20.32 1964 20.9 2014-15 Embroidery by Graphic Design Newmst‘e P°"°e Defi’anmem Depamlem Ongdculm. 20.24 2019 21.6 1963-64 ._ Weston County Travej Commission Weston County Sheriff Search and Rescue The finponanw of the des_ _J Letter Journaj Weston County Emergency Management ignation lies in the fact that 13063430” High COUNTY Banting company “We, N'Ck! Keua’ 8‘ Randy BOCk Weston County producers are Niobrara, Platte and Sheridan. Livestock, Honeybees and ) misinterpretation in the future. He noted that the example resolutions would be hard for landowners to comply with and hard for the county to enforce. “If comes down to an issue of definition, you can narrow it down and be specific,” Berger said. Berger said there might be a concern about a resolution being too specific. If seen as being too specific, he said, the commission could be viewed as creating a law to attack an individual person. Commissioners agreed that the county should refrain from creating a nuisance resolution and allow entities such as the DEQ or fire marshal to ‘ enforce potential cleanups of areas of concern. " Ertrnan maintained that if the county wants “ to move forward in dictating what is and is not a nuisance, it should be done through a planning and zoning board and involve the public’s opinion in developing the rules and regulations. “It has been tried a couple times and it just doesn’t fly,” Ertrnan said. “But, the world changes.” According to Clerk Becky Hadlock, the topic is not scheduled for further discussion.