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Our View
,All about the
little things
We have said many times over the last nine months that 2020
is the year that just keeps on going, from a global pandemic to
the Black Lives Matter movement and claims of election fraud,
this year has been one for the history books. As the year that has
delivered more turmoil than we would like to admit comes to a
close, we want to remind everyone to be.,thankful for the little
things.
In a small community, in the least populated state in the
nation, it is easy to feel isolated from big city problems and the '
hustle and bustle that aécompanies larger populations. We have
been fortunate to remain below the radar in comparison to more
densely populated areas, as far as COVID-19 is concerned.
As we move forward and navigate the colder months amid
a global pandemic, as we gauge and learn other’s concerns and
opinions on public health guidelines, let’s remember the little
things.
Before you get frustrated because a business requests you
wear a mask, remember that time they donated a gift basketball
to a nonprofit auction. Before you call out the lady in front of
you at the store for not wearing a mask, let’s remember that
there is another side to the story.
We are fortunate to know the people in our community, to
spend time with them, become their friends and to call some
of them family. Before we get too wrapped up in the big things
as we close out this year, let’s remember its all about the little
things.
We are in this together, with respect, kindness and patience,
Newcastle, Weston County and Wyoming can rise above and
start 2021 the right way.‘
COVID-19 pounds
Folks, it’s time to be hopefiil.
Both out here in Wyoming and
across the world.
I am hopeful despite the fact
that it is 2 degrees outside and our
Lander Valley is covered in snow.
The nights are very long. Hardly a “n
light streak in the sky '
as I type away at 6:03
am. Brrrr. We are
deep in the heart of
Wyoming Winter.
My late dad
dreaded these long
nights, but this time of
year he would remind
me that in a few V
weeks, the shortest
day of the year would
be here (Dec. 21) and
then tell me: “Guess what? The days
will be getting longer. Now that’s
good news.” I agree with him.
The big struggle at our house
right now is my wife Nancy and
I arguing about getting out all the
Christmas decorations. Because of
COVID-19, we will not have any
of our kids or grandkids inside our
house probably will do a “drive-
by” or, if the weather is nice, do
something outside.
Last month for Thanksgiving,
our daughter Shelli Johnson and
her husband cooked up everything
and brought it over and we ate
it on our deck under sunny skies
with 40-degree temps. Could we
luck out on Christmas with similar
weather? I
At our ages, we are following the
guidelines and trying to stay safe.
So’ normally at this time of year
our glandkids haul all the difl‘erent
giant Santa Claus statues and big
nutcrackers up from the basement
to the main floor. It’s a big job and
one that I do not want to do myself.
I grew a shaggy white beard
during “no shave November” to
recognize the battle against cancer
but also because I am lazy. But
instead of saying” Ho-Ho-Ho,” it
appears my wife thinks I am saying
“Humbug” when it comes to getting
out all the decorations.
“But I do it for me. It makes me
feel good. I want that Christmas
feeling in the house, whether anyone
Bill Sniffin
My Wyoming
r , else sees it or not,” she concludes.
Any guess how this is going to turn
out? Just hope I don’t fall down the
stairs with a life—size nutcracker on
my head.
Gaining weight during this
pandemic has been a huge issue for
most people. The explanation is that
the “19” in COVID-19 really means
the 19 pounds you have gained
inithe past 10 months. One of my
brothers joked with me the other day
that he is now eating ice cream right
out of the box and using the scoop,
rather than going to all the trouble of
finding a spoon. Now that is giving
in, bro!
Lately readers of this column
have been chastising me for being
gloomy. Really?
Yes,.I worry about
‘ Wyoming’s economy. And
there are hundreds of small
business people in our state
that are either gone or hanging
by a thread. And they are
going into the worst time of
year economically. We all
need to try to figure out a way
to shop local and to support
our restaurants.
In the big pictpre, a great
number of the state’s cities
and towns seem to be pretty eco-
nomically diversified. Let’s hope so.
Alter battling the ubiquitous
scourge of the COVID-19 virus
since March, folks are getting
weary. But help is on the way.
Vaccinations will be starting around
Christmas and hopefully by spring,
a lot of danger from the virus will
be in our rear-view mirror. I sure
hope so.
Looking ahead to 2021, it
appears the Legislature may post-
pone its two-month general session
from January to later. Not sure, but
that might be a good idea. I know it
sounds like we are giving in to the
virus, but it would just be a one-time
change. With our crazy revenue
picture, having an extra month or
two to see how the year is Corning
along might be helpful.
State Sen. Hank Coe up in
Cody just retired and is now sick
with cancer. Keep him in your
prayers. He is a great fi'iend to all in
Wyoming. Hang in there, Hank!
On a national level, President
Donald Trump’s campaign has sure
found some interesting examples of
funny balloting. The idea of truck-
loads of phony mail-in ballots being
hauled around the country does not
seem toofar-fetched to me. The
total voting numbers are astonishing
when you compare the Trump-
Biden race to the Trump-Clinton
race four years ago. Did almost 22
“ million more people really vote this
time over 2016?
Meanwhile, where is that ice
cream? And that scoop?
Bill Smfi‘in is a retired news-
paper publisher who has penned a
number of books about Wyoming.
Check out additional columns
written by Bill at wwwbillsmflin.
com, and find volumes fiom his
coflee table book series, which have
sold over copies, for sale at
the News Letter Journal.
e I N I
Letters to the Editor . . . ............................ ..
Let’s res ect each
ot er
To the Editor:
Many years ago, I was advised by my
friends that to avoid some major disagree—
ments with anyone, I should avoid any
discussions about religion, politics, and
baseball (with Homer). However, I now
feel the need to
discuss the recent
presidential
election.
Both my
parents .were
Democrats, and
I never had a
problem. fol-
lowing their lead.
It seemed to me
that our country had been able to get along
fairly well with two major political parties.
Since 1948-, Democrats have occupied the
White House six times and so have the
Republicans, with both parties have presi-
dents serving more than two terms. In two
elections, and 2016, the Democratic
candidate had more popular votes but not
more electoral college votes. After both
elections, the losing candidates accepted
the results because they believed that the
people who work at the polls supervising
the voting and counting the votes are
citizens from both parties who take their
jobs seriously and make sure all votes are
properly recorded.
I worked as an election judge in
Weston County for over 20 years and
never witnessed any wrong doing or
cheating —-— every vote, even those for
Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck were
properly recorded. To think that the
Democrats were able to rig the 2020 elec—
tion is an insult to those who worked at
the election.
For the last two years, the chief
election judge, Chris Krebs (a life-long
Republigan and .appoinwdrfby‘aRlepublic
president) has stated th "t
secure election in his? y H _,
ment, he was fired. Of all thecourt ases
challenging the results in many states, all
have been dismissed.
It is hard for me to see how the
Democrats are the ones who have been '
“poisoning America” as stated in last
week’s paper. From all the turmoil and
chaos of recent years, we all should have
learned to be more respectful of each
other, be more kind to each other, and be
more cooperative in achieving common
goals for the good of all mankind.
Herb French
Residents need
visits
To the Editor:
Afier reading the letter to the editor last
week by Gerry Clark, I felt like I needed
to share my stand on the same issue.
Below is a letter I wrote the day after
Thanksgiving to Erica Eastlund, regional
ombudsman for Manor residents.
Dear Ms. Eastlund:
I am writing because I probably would
not make it through a phone call coher-
ently. I am asking for your intervention
in whatever capacity you have available
to intercede and intervene on my wife’s
behalf. My wife, Esther Taylor, is a
resident of Weston County Manor here in
Newcastle, WY. She is 72 and has early
on—set dementia and now needs 24-hour
care. She now cannot even walk, eat, or
sit down properly without assistance. The
hardest decision of my life was to decide
we could no longer take care of the Wife,
“sooner
(Chairman) .
an, tpnepf‘ V
“Changed? Alli
“tr-"MP ‘ .. f‘
as;
mother, and grandmother we all love and
place her in the nursing home about 18
months ago. But, we were all able to visit
as much as possible and she knew we were
close and still loved her. Nothing is more
important to Esther than the family she
loves dearly, other than her relationship
with Jesus. I would go twice,.a day and
visit with her.
Then COVID hit and the Manor closed
down “temporarily.” And,
immediately Esther began to
exhibit separation anxiety. It
has now been eight months
and 10 days since Esther has
'been able to touch or be with
any family or friends; The
first thing she tells me every
day I talk to her, and she is
coherent, is that she wants to
see me; when am I coming? It
is heartbreaking for us as she exhibits fear,
anxiety, frustration, and anger.
We have shared with the Manor staff
multiple times how the separation is
killing Esther and we know she would
rather spend the next month with us and
die of COVID than spend the next year
in isolation. But, they are unbending. I
understand their liability situation and the
desire to protect their population.
But, staff goes in and out every day
and they interact with people and environ-
ments outside the facility and then make
contact with Esther, yet I can’t even enter
the building even though I’ve already had
COVID and am willing to test and mask.
Then, Monday they called and shared
that CMS had come out with new guide-
lines and we Could bring Esther home for
the holiday if we signed a form saying we
would follow the CMS recommendations
“to the best of our ability.” We thought
we could make that Work and were totally
excited about finally being able to have
a few hours of interaction with the one
we love on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Yesterday Manor staff called back and
onversation had
611010 ’ 0' 'rtes of provid‘
l ‘>ions,1it,'1vas s I
, ‘Nlimor management had
decided that the CMS guidelines were no
longer recommendations and Were now
requirements. There was no mention of
“to the best of our ability,” and I was told
that she would be doomed to 14 days of
quarantine if we broke any rule. I asked if
that meant that as soon as I helped her in
the house I had broken the rules and she
would be quarantined and was told, “Yes.”
So, as soon as staff brought her to the
door and l guided her to the car and got in
with her I would be observed breaking the
rules and she would be destined for quar—
antine! But, the staff member could hold
her arm! This is totally unreasonable and
it was cruel to get our hopes up and then
dash them. Manor management would
rather let her rot in isolation than show
some courage and let family go through
the same precautions as staff and minister
to her.
I could go on about how much this
situation angers and depresses me, but
I am sure you are aware of that already.
Suffice it to say I am fed up with the hard—
nosed attitude of management to protect
themselves while my wife deteriorates,
now has the cognitive ability of a 1- or
1-year-old, and have been told by staff
who are working closely with her how‘
she and all the other residents are wasting
away with this treatment and isolation.
Consequently, I ask you to do whatever
you can to secure visitation for our loved
ones.‘I would wager that just about every
resident there would prefer more and
closer visitation than more safety.
Illh >
—— Respectfully, Bill Taylor
Need to talk to a
public servant?
, County Commission
Members’
contacts:
746-21 08
746-23 51
746-8898
756-2561
468-2381
746—4744
December 10, 2020 — 3
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