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Our View
“ o P I I
\A\/\\\\\eo»¢\\\'§~\x . \ ~\' 3...“, WW“ c. was“.
Virtual meetings or bust
s COVID—19 restrictions began to
Aspread across the world, agencies,
municipalities, boards and govem—
ment officials had to quickly adjust to doing
business remotely. While larger areas may
have been more accustomed to using tech-
nology to remain transparent — for example
the Gillette City Council live streams all of
their meetings — other smaller entities had
to learn on the fly and begin hosting
virtual meetings.
In Weston County, the Newcastle City
Council, Weston County Commissioners,
Weston County Health Services Board of
Trustees and the Weston County School
District No. 1 Board of Trustees held phone
conference calls or Zoom meetings in place
of their regular in-person meetings. Not
only were people allowed to participate in
the meetings without risking infection, but
those who were never involved in local gov-
ernment before had the ability to participate
from the comfort of their home.
Now, six months into the pandemic,
health orders have slowly relaxed across the
state, leading to several boards returning
to in-person meetings instead of the virtual
options. The Newcastle City Council has
also continued to encourage those recog-
nized by the entity to not come to the meet-
ings, but to wait for their certificate in the
mail, leading us to question why they have
not continued hosting virtual options.
This pandemic has taught us a lot about
ourselves, our communities, and our ability
to use technology to make our lives more
convenient. The ability to stay home and
listen to a 7 pm. Newcastle City Council
meeting while our families slept was
something journalists have probably always
Not only were journalists and other
professionals allowed to participate in the
meetings without breaking health orders, but
people who never participated in meetings
before, or hadn’t in some time, were given
the ability to engage remotely.
While several local entities have ceased
this practice and no longer provide a virtual
option, the board at WCSD No. 1 has con-
tinued to stream their meetings over Zoom
and Superintendent Brad LaCroix reported
that the board has continued to see increases
in the participation from not only staff but
students and the community. Local emer-
gency responders have also continued the
practice of holding their monthly meetings
via Zoom.
The ability to be as transparent as pos-
sible, and encourage increased community
involvement with local boards, has left
us questioning why every single board,
whether it is the commissioners or city
council, have not continued to extend
that courtesy.
If the government’s job is supposed to be
to serve the public in the most transparent
ways possible, wouldn’t it make sense to
continue to live stream those meetings?
Shouldn’t these boards strive to have as
much participation as possible?
Here at the News Letter Journal, we
think yes. ‘
With dipping temperatures and cold and
flu season just around the corner, we would
like to encourage officials who read this
editorial to start the discussion, to encourage
transparency and to push for these meet-
ings to have a virtual option. If our state
legislators can do it, there is no reason local
boards can’t continue to keep their doors —
dreamed of.
or computer screens — wide open.
N
Letter to the Editor ............... ..
RootGate
To the Editor: Root Gate
It had been quite a while, so Stretch jumped the tumstile,
To go and get a touch-up on her roots.
She knew the media wouldn’t care, if she got a ‘do on her
hair,
Cause her homies are all in cahoots.
She didn’t bother
with the task, of the
mandated mask,
That was another
rule she chose to
ignore.
Being elite she
could reject, all the
regulations in eflect,
Just like the
“Closed” sign on the salon door.
Why, her kind makes the rules, for the deplorable fools,
They should appreciate her need to look swell.
After her hypocrisy was named, she was set up she claimed,
Hoping the peons would fall back under her spell.
If the rabble quieted down then perhaps, she’d throw them
some scraps,
If they persisted there’d be hell to pay.
It would be their choice, they could march to her voice,
Or shut down forever they’d stay.
‘Cause rules are for thee, not people like she,
because Stretch is quite special you see.
— Jim Darlington 9/11/20
Check out the
News Letter
Journal
at newslycom
Mental health iscrucial inlxthe face of the pandemic
he last six months
have been difficult
and challenging for
everyone trying to cope with
the COVID-19 pandemic and
all the unrest in the world. We
are not alone in our struggles.
People all over the world are
experiencing the
same emotional
stress. We are all
tired and want to
see an end to the
uncertainty the
COVID-19 pan-
demic has caused.
about getting sick, your child,
family, friends, your job, or
your finances? Lastly, ask
yourself what can I do? There
are some things that are out
of our control, focus on what
you can control and let go of
what you can’t. If you have
tried working through
your concerns and
you are not able to
rise above it, please
reach out for support.
This can be with a
trusted friend/family
member, your pastor,
Our feelings are m Bickfn'rl ' i your health care
justified consid- The PUbllC provider, or a mental
ering what is going Health health counselor. If
on in the world.
If you find
that you are overwhelmed
with your feelings and it is
affecting your emotional
well—being, there are steps
that you can take to gain
control over the situation.
It’s important not to let the
current situation we are
in keep you in a constant
state of emotional distress.
A balance of our emotional
and physical well-being
is critical to our overall
health including keeping
our immune system strong.
Eating healthy, well—balanced '
meals, regular exercise, and
adequate sleep are crucial to
our well-being.
There are three important
steps we can take to reduce
the emotional stress we may
be feeling. If we can break
down the process, it’s not so
overwhelming to get back
on track. The first step in
reducing stress is to acknowl-
edge what you are feeling.
Is it fear, anger, depression
anxiety, worry, or confu-
sion? Secondly, break down
what is preoccupying your
thoughts. Are you worried
WW
it is easier to talk
anonymously with
a counselor these lines are
available 24/7 to help you
through difficult moments.
0 Disaster Distress
Helpline 1—800-985-5990
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Domestic
Violence Hotline1-800—799-
7233 or text LOVEIS to
22522 ,
National Child Abuse
Hotline 1-800-4AChild
(1-800-422-4453) or text
1-800-422-4453
- National Sexual Assault
Hotline: 1-800—656-HOPE
(4673)
Veteran’s Crisis Line
1-800-273-TALK
Let’s put things in
perspective to reduce the
stress that can come with
the current situation. The
COVID-19 Virus is very real
and contagious. We know
that the virus is transmitted
by respiratory droplets which
can infect people who are
in close proximity to one
another. The virus can also
be transmitted by our hands
if we touch our face, nose
and mouth. The purpose of
the public health measures
of distancing ourselves from
others by feet, washing our
hands, and wearing a mask,
help reduce transmission
to others and are in place
to help control the spread
of the virus. By controlling
the spread of the virus, we
can minimize the risk of
outbreaks (large groups of
people infected) in our com-
munity, overwhelming our
hospital and medical com-
munity. We currently do not
have an outbreak situation in
Weston County, but we will
continue to have COVID-19
cases and we fully expect
to see this. We are grateful
that our case numbers have
remained low and we have
not had any reported deaths.
Our schools and parents
have been amazing to work
with concerning our recent
COVID-19 exposures. The
schools have plans in place
to handle exposures within
the school that affect staff as
well as students. The school
staff are working diligently
to provide a safe environ-
ment for students to be able
to attend in person learning
opportunities. If you have -.
questions or concerns about
school plans responding to
COVID-l9, please reach out
to the school superintendents
or school principals for
more details.
We would like to provide
more information regarding
isolation and quarantine.
Weston County Public
Health, in conjunction With
the Wyoming Department
.of Health, is responsible for
contact tracing of all posi-
tive cases. Contact tracing
helps prevent outbreaks by
isolating the sick until their
symptoms resolve and they
are no longer contagious
and quarantining those who
had close contact and were
exposed to a positive case.
We monitor quarantine
cases for symptoms during
a 14-day incubation period.
Those who are placed on
isolation or quarantine are
instrumental in helping us
keep people from unknow-
ingly spreading the Virus.
Someone who is placed
on isolation or quarantine
hasn’t done any wrong and
shouldn’t be treated as such.
There is no reason for guilt
or embarrassment. This virus
is very elusive and can infect
anyone at any time.
The Wyoming Department
of Health has received
funding from the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention to help with the
COVID-19 response. This
funding was distributed
across the board to all
counties to help with the
COVID-l9 response. The
funding covers supplies,
testing, vaccine campaigns,
and personnel if needed. The
funding we have received
is much like the funding
patterns that we. saw in the
H1N1 response in 2009.
The CDC used a model to
push out response funds
anticipating the possible cost
rather than having states and
counties footing the bill then
trying to seek reimburse-
ment. Much of the funding
amounts we received during
this time could not possibly
be used because of our small
population. Funds that were
not used were returned to
the Wyoming Department of
Health/CDC. These funds are
tracked monthly and audited
each year by the state. The
same process will be used in
the funding we have received
for COVID-l9. If the funds
are not used, they will be sent
back to the WDH/CDC.
We have worked with our
community health partners to
develop COVID—l9 testing
agreements with Weston
County Health Services and
Hometown Medical Clinic.
Monument Health providers
in Upton and Newcastle send
individuals to Weston County
Health Services for testing as
well. We have free testing for
those who do not have insur-
ance so they receive the same
access to care as those who
have insurance.
We will be transitioning
from our Weston County
Public Health Facebook page
to a Weston County Public
Health COVID-19 group
page for the announcements
of COVID-19 cases only. Our
Weston County Public Health
website (wcph.net) provides
more education/information
and resources in one place
for the public’s convenience.
Go to the COVID-19 Corner
tab at the top of the page.
You will find resources such
as Wyoming 211 for ques-
tions about unemployment or .
assistance with rent/mortgage
for those who have received
isolation or quarantine orders.
We are blessed to live in
the state of Wyoming and
especially in Weston County.
We have not faced the over-
whelming COVID-19 cases
that we see in other states
and counties. We thank you
for your continued support
in keeping our community
as safe as possible during
the COVID 19. We will get
through this challenge and
one day it will be over. In the
meantime, stay strong,
stay positive.
Deadline for letters is noon on Friday
September 17, 2020 —— 3
News Letter Journal:
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Klm Dean
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Arts and Culture
Reporter
0mm
SiriKarr
AmyMenerey
Ann Cortnell, James Lane
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News Letter Journal is
published each Thursday at 14 W.
Main Street in
Newcastle (Weston Co.) WY
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