Pinedale Updates, What's happening? Pinedale, Wyoming

The Pinedale Squirts (9 & 10 year olds) held two hockey tournaments over the weekend to teams from Rock Springs, Jackson and Big Piney. Sunday's games were held on Half Moon Lake for the second Half Moon Lake Resort Invitational Hockey Tournament.
Half Moon tourney photos by Josh Wilson for Pinedale Online.

Hardhats & Stetsons
Saturday, March 2, 5:30 pm
The Green River Valley Museum's annual fundraiser, Hard Hats & Stetsons, will be held March 16th at the Waterhole #3 in Marbleton. The evening will feature a live and silent auction, raffle balloons, door prizes, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing to the "Mad Hatters". There will be a live auction with highlights being tickets to the Utah Symphony, a Lagoon package, a package to the Pioneer Theatre in Salt Lake, and a Thermopolis trip with swimming at Star Plunge. The silent auction will have many items donated by the local businesses and citizens of Sublette County. Money raised will go for more pods for more displays, finishing work on the new building, and a new display "The Dress Maker's Shop" featuring period clothing donated by local citizens. To view items for bid in the silent auction, visit the Hard Hats and Stetsons page on our sister web site, Sublette.com. Anyone wishing to donate an item for the auctions, or just make a donation to the museum, can contact Carrie Anderson at 307-276-5343, GRVM, P.O.Box 12, Big Piney, WY 83113. Visit the museum's web site:
www.grvm.com

Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat Application Deadline February 28, 2002
The Wyoming Game & Fish Department is reminding hunters that license and preference point applications for both resident and nonresidents for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat must be received at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Cheyenne office by 5 p.m. Feb. 28. Applications are available from the Game & Fish web site at gf.state.wy.us or by calling (307) 777-4600. Hunters are urged to apply as soon as possible to lessen the risk of their application being received after the deadline date of 5:00 P.M., February 28, 2002.

Ice Fishing Derby on Fremont Lake
March 2 & 3, 2002, Fremont Lake, no membership required
The Pinedale Boat Club is holding their annual Ice Fishing Derby on Fremont Lake Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3. This One-Fish Tournament has a $1,000 prize for the Biggest Fish. Day money and other prizes will be awarded. There is a $20 entry fee, but no membership is required. Pre-registration is from 6-8 pm on Friday, March 1st at the Cowboy Bar in Pinedale. The Derby runs from 7 am - 4 pm on Saturday and 7 am - 2 pm on Sunday.

Green River Valley Winter Carnival
March 7-9 in Pinedale (note date change)
The Green River Valley Winter Carnival has been re-scheduled to Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9. The Winter Carnival, being spearheaded by Pinedale Roundup Editor Rob Shaul, will include arm wrestling tournaments, a drag beauty pageant, children's events and adult contests and races. Other fun events planned include a snowmachine long jump, a community dance, and casino night. Carnival activities will take place in various locations around Pinedale. Call 367-2242 (Pinedale Chamber) or 367-6732 for more information.

Wyoming Students Urged to Enter Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Wyoming Game & Fish News Release
Wyoming's kindergarten through high school students can learn about waterfowl and the value of wetlands by participating in the 2002 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program. To participate in the program, any Wyoming student -- public, private or home school - should research a native North American duck, goose or swan species, and then paint or draw the bird in a 9-by 12-inch horizontal format. Entry forms, which include specific guidelines are available at http:duckstamps.sws.gov or by calling Wyoming coordinator Jane Lavino at (307) 732-5417.
Students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia compete in the program. From 400-800 Wyoming students annually enter the competition, says Lavino, who is the education coordinator of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson. A Best of Show winner also is selected at the state level, to compete nationally. The winning artwork at the national show becomes the design for the following year's Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The first place national show winner also is awarded a $2,500 scholarship. Last year, 16-year-old Bridger Konkel of Sheridan won best of show in Wyoming with his painting of a pair of wood ducks. Wyoming judging takes place March 26. The first through third place paintings in kindergarten - 3rd grade, 4th - 6th grade, 7th - 9th grade and 10th - 12th grade divisions will be displayed at the museum from May 9 to Aug. 22. "It's one of our most popular exhibits," Lavino says.

Entries must be postmarked no later than March 15 and mailed or delivered to:
Jane Lavino
National Museum of Wildlife Art
POB 6825
Jackson, WY 83002

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp program was initiated in 1994 to increase knowledge about the Federal Duck Stamp as a conservation program, and to help teach the importance of wetland conservation.

Boaters Encouraged to Register their Boat Now
Wyoming Game & Fish News Release
Both new boat owners and renewals are encouraged to register early and to submit all the required paperwork, says Maggie Barnes, who oversees boat registrations for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. She reminds new boat owners to submit a notarized bill of sale, dealer's invoice and proof of sales tax payment with their registration form. All owners are urged to register early to make sure they are ready to launch when lakes open up. Barnes encourages boaters to take advantage of the 3-year registration. "That way boaters only have to deal with the application every three years and get to save a little money by doing it," she said.
Boat registration is $15 annually or $40 for three years. Forms are available from G&F offices, license agents and on the "fishing page" of the G&F Web site at gf.state.wy.us. Beginning this year in Wyoming, all boats equipped with any size motor - electric or internal combustion -- must be registered.

It's a Swing Thang!
Wednesday, Feb 27, 7-8:30 pm, Pinedale Elementary Gym Commons Area
Like to swing dance? Then you won't want to miss the Big Band Swing dance at the Pinedale Elementary Gym Commons Area on Wednesday, February 27th from 7-8:30 pm. No partner is necessary. The cost is $10 percouple and $5 for singles. The session is being taught by Karen Forss, member of Contemporary Dance Wyoming which will be performing in Pinedale on Friday, March 1st at 7:30 pm in the Pinedale Auditorium as part of a Pinedale Fine Arts Council season ticket event program. For more information, call 367-7322.

Green River Valley Cattlemen's Association Annual Meeting and Banquet
Saturday, March 2, 5:30 pm
The Green River Valley Cattlemen's Association will be holding their annual Meeting & Banquet on Saturday, March 2nd at 5:30 pm the Pinedale Entertainment Center. Banquet speaker is C.J. Hadley, editor/publisher of Range Magazine. The dinner will be prime rib, by Sue Eversull, with music and dancing to the band Midnight Cowboys. Banquet tickets are $25/person and must be purchased by February 24th. Tickets are available from Randy Bolgiano (537-5280), Jim Bousman (537-3004), Corby McGinnis (386-2382) and Sue Sommers (367-2123/4601). The GRVCA committee meetings will take place on Friday, March 1st at 1 pm at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale. There will be a Congressional Roundtable on Saturday at 1 pm with Senators Mike Enzi and Craig Thomas before the banquet. The meeting and banquet are co-hosted by the Wyoming Stockgrower's Association and Mortenson Stevens & Co CPAs.

There still is Great Snowmobiling!

Snowmobiling the 'Corkscrew' in the Wyoming Range. Photo by Dave Bell.

"Climbing the Corkscrew" near Lookout Peak in the Wyoming Range last weekend. "There's still plenty of good snow!".
Photo by Dave Bell. (see more of Dave's pictures here)

Green River Valley Cattlemen's Association Annual Meeting and Banquet
Saturday, March 2, 5:30 pm
The Green River Valley Cattlemen's Association will be holding their annual Meeting & Banquet on Saturday, March 2nd at 5:30 pm the Pinedale Entertainment Center. Banquet speaker is C.J. Hadley, editor/publisher of Range Magazine. The dinner will be prime rib, by Sue Eversull, with music and dancing to the band Midnight Cowboys. Banquet tickets are $25/person and must be purchased by February 24th. Tickets are available from Randy Bolgiano (537-5280), Jim Bousman (537-3004), Corby McGinnis (386-2382) and Sue Sommers (367-2123/4601). The GRVCA committee meetings will take place on Friday, March 1st at 1 pm at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale. There will be a Congressional Roundtable on Saturday at 1 pm with Senators Mike Enzi and Craig Thomas before the banquet. The meeting and banquet are co-hosted by the Wyoming Stockgrower's Association and Mortenson Stevens & Co CPAs.

BLM Public Input Wanted for Oil & Gas Development
February 20, 2002, 6:30 pm, Pinedale Auditorium
The Pinedale Field Manager of the Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale Field Office, is seeking public input concerning types of watershed and wildlife monitoring programs that are needed to assess the effectiveness and reasonableness of mitigation as it relates to resources in association with oil and gas development activities that are taking place in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA). A meeting to accept individual recommendations will be held at the Pinedale Auditorium at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, February 20th. According to a news release from the BLM, no group consensus will be sought or encouraged by the BLM and advice and recommendations will not be accepted on behalf of the Adaptive Environmental Management (AEM) Task Groups. The BLM will utilize a meeting moderator to ensure that all participants have the opportunity to present their views. Notes will be kept on the meeting and will be available for public view, including individual recommendations. No decision on accepting a monitoring plan or initiating any specific data collection activity will be made by the BLM at this meeting. After thirty days, the BLM Field Manager will make a decision concerning appropriate data collection and monitoring activities. For more information, contact the Pinedale Field Office of the BLM at 432 E Mill Street in Pinedale or call 307-367-5300.

White Pine Ski Area offers Discount Ski Day to Wyoming Skiers
White Pine Ski Area is offering a special discount ski package to Wyoming skiers. With their 10-10-10 Ski Package, skiers can ski White Pine on the first Wednesday of each month for just $10. Ski rentals and lessons are also just $10 on that day. Skiers must present a Wyoming Driver's License or student ID, and a coupon which can be printed off from the White Pine Ski web site: www.whitepineski.com. White Pine is also featuring live entertainment every weekend with award-winning singer/songwriter John Paul Westbrook. Music begins at 2:30 pm and continues until the last run of the day. Skiers can get the latest snow report by calling 307-367-6606 or from the web site.

ASK THE GAME & FISH
Q. "When can I register my boat?"
A. Right now is a good time to take care of registration*before the lakes open up. Many boaters wait until it warms up and then want their boat registration right away. When the G&F has a backlog of registrations it may take up to 10 working days to get it processed. By registering now you will avoid the backlog and have your boat ready when you want to go fishing.
Fishermen with small boats are alerted that beginning this year, all boats with any size motor - both gas and electric - need to be registered.

Squirt Hockey Tournaments Last Weekend
The Pinedale Squirt hockey team (9 & 10 year olds) held two tournaments over last weekend. Teams from Big Piney,

Half Moon Lake Invitational Tourney. Photo by Josh Wilson.

Rock Springs and Jackson came to town for the tournaments. Friday and Saturday's games were held at the Pinedale Hockey rink on the west end of town with Pinedale, Rock Springs, Big Piney and Jackson competing. Jackson placed 1st in this

Half Moon Lake Resort Invitational Tourney. Photo by Josh Wilson.

tournament, Pinedale 2nd, and Rock Springs 3rd.

On Sunday, teams from Big Piney, Rock Springs and Pinedale competed in the Half Moon Lake Invitational Hockey Tournament hosted by Half Moon Lake Resort. Teams enjoyed the beautiful weather and gorgeous setting to play games throughout the day. Big Piney placed 3rd, Rock Springs placed 2nd, and Pinedale placed 1st.

Pinedale Entertainment Center Update
The Center is open!
The movie line-up for the rest of this week is Harry Potter, Orange County, and Ocean's II. The new movies for next week won't be in until later in the week. Lots of folks have called and asked when Lord of the Rings will be in. They hope it will be here either this weekend or next weekend. (We'll post the lineup here when they find out and let us know.) You can also call the Pinedale Movie Line phone number for a recorded message about what movies will be playing and times, 367-6688. The PEC is currently taking applications for employment. Anyone wanting more information, or to fill out an application, should inquire at the front desk.

Theater tickets: Adults $7.00, Seniors (60 and over) $6.00, Kids Under 12 $5.00, Senior Matinees on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Arcades are $.25-$.50/game. Billiards is $.50/game. Bowling (open) is $3.00/game, $2.00/shoes. Seniors & Juniors bowling is $2.50/game. The Center is open from 10 am - 9:30 pm.

Recreation Boards Hears Requests for Funding
The Sublette County Recreation Board will be budget requests for the 2002-2003 fiscal year in Pinedale and Big Piney in mid March. Representatives from organizations must attend the meeting and present written proposals (10 copies) of their funding request. The proposal must contain an outline of the project or organization that is requesting the funds, an itemized description of how the money will be spent, demonstrate how the project or organization benefits the residents of Sublette County recreationally, and show other sources for support. Requests will not be received after March 12, 2002. The Pinedale meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 5th at 7 pm in the County Commissioners Room. The Big Piney meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at 7 pm at the Big Piney High School Media Center.

New Computer Virus Warning
German Yarner worm finishes the job by deleting your Windows Directory.
English version not here yet, but probably coming.
Alert from Pinedale Online: We've had some breathing time since the last virus hit and disrupted our computering lives here in Pinedale, but there is a new virus (worm) on the internet now that we want to make people aware of. This new virus/worm, Yarner, is still in German and an English version hasn't hit us yet, but it probably will be translated and set loose. It comes in via e-mail attachment appearing to be a newsletter about Trojan horses from a legitimate security site. Once opened, the worm executes and finds any e-mail address it can on the infected computer, in their e-mail program and anywhere else it can find on the hard drive. It then uses its own e-mail program to send itself out again so the user doesn't realize the messages are being sent out. Once that is done, the worm then deletes the Windows directory on the computer. This is a potentially very dangerous worm that can cause a lot of damage to victim's computers, and it isn't something that is an easy fix when people bring in their computers to the computer repair guy. The best protection is for people to make sure they have the latest virus definitions downloaded from their virus protection software (this should be done weekly), and make sure your e-mail programs is set to not automatically open attachments. If you don't know who an e-mail is from, be very cautious about opening it. Better to delete a questionable e-mail than open it and have it execute a virus. We remind people to be sure to back up their important computer files in a secondary location besides their hard drive (CD, zip disk, tape backup) to prevent devastating data loss should the computer hard drive files become corrupted or destroyed.
Prevention: Users of Microsoft Outlook 2002 and users of Outlook 2000 who have installed the Security Update should be safe from opening the attached file with Yarner. Users who have not upgraded to Outlook 2002 or who have not installed the Security Update for Outlook 2000 should do so. In general, do not open attached files in e-mail without first saving them to hard disk and scanning them with updated antivirus software. Contact your antivirus vendor to obtain the most current antivirus signature files that include Yarner.

For more information about the Yarner worm: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-840177.html

Pinedale Entertainment Center Update
The Center is open!
The Pinedale Entertainment Center opened Saturday afternoon to enthusiastic movie-goers. The Arcade and Billiards room were packed, and the bowling alley opened later in the evening. Scroll down this page for today's movie times and prices.
The movie line-up is Harry Potter, Orange County, and Ocean's II. Theater tickets: Adults $7.00, Seniors (60 and over) $6.00, Kids Under 12 $5.00, Senior Matinees on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Arcades are $.25-$.50/game. Billiards is $.50/game. Bowling (open) is $3.00/game, $2.00/shoes. Seniors & Juniors bowling is $2.50/game.

Half Moon Lake Resort hosted their annual Half Moon Lake Ice Fishing Derby Saturday and Sunday. Pinedale Online photo.

Pinedale Fine Arts Council Wins Endowment Challenge Grant
The Pinedale Fine Arts Council announced earlier this week that they have been selected to participate in the Wyoming Community Foundation/Kresge Foundation "Partnership to Raise Community Capital." They are one of 21 Wyoming charitable nonprofits competitively chosen by the Board of Directors of the Wyoming Community Foundation for the Partnership program. The PFAC has pledged to raise $100,000 in new endowment monies by January 1, 2005 to receive a grant in the amount of $33,333 for its endowment. The WCF will assist the PFAC in its efforts to raise the 1:3 matching funds with a fund-raising academy for its board members and staff, and with other activities. In addition, the PFAC will receive approximately $2000 representing annual income from the anticipated $33,333 grant. to help defray fund-raising costs during the three years of the program. Within a year after the PFAC raises its stated endowment goal it can expect an annual distribution of around $7,000 or more to help cover their general operating expenses.

Women Who Built the American West
February 13, 2002, 6 pm
The local chapter of the Business and Professional Women, and the Cowboy Shop in Pinedale, are sponsoring a program entitled, "Women Who Built the American West" by Living Historian Dorene Ludwig on Wednesday, February 13th at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale. Ms. Ludwig is President and Artistic Director of the American Living History Theater in Greybull. Her program focuses on how the accomplishments, resourcefulness and perseverance of the early women who settled in the American west helped shape our country. The program is funded by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities as part of their 2002 Speakers Bureau. This presentation is free and open to the public. Reservations can be made by calling 307-367-8888.

Job Openings in Pinedale
People looking for employment in the Pinedale and Sublette County area soon discover this is not an easy task. We do not have a local job service office and many jobs never get advertised beyond word of mouth. The local papers do print some job announcements, and state and federal jobs are posted through the job service agencies (see our Other Links section below). The best way to keep in touch of the local job market is to subscribe to the local papers, either the Pinedale Roundup or the Sublette Examiner (local newspapers). The Roundup publishes its classifieds each week here on Pinedale Online (online classifieds). In addition to the various cook, waitress, and motel help positions in the Help Wanted section, below are some of the professional jobs that are currently being advertised in the area:

Pinedale High School Locker Search
The Sublette County Sheriff's Office and Sublette County School District #1 issued a joint news release on Monday, February 11, 2002, that they had conducted a search of the lockers in the Pinedale High School.

"In order to insure the health and safety of students and staff at Pinedale High School, and in cooperation with local law enforcement, a locker search was conducted with trained drug detection dogs. The search was conducted Monday midmorning and lasted approximately 45 minutes. The search resulted with dogs indicating on several lockers, but no quantities of any illegal substances were found. Not all lockers were searched. This cooperative effort hopes to assure parents and community that the schools are concerned as to activities that would prove harmful to students and that they will remain vigilant in maintaining a drug free environment within all schools."

Outlaw T's, from Star Valley, were on hand selling t-shirts, sweatshirts, and caps custom made for the Pinedale Snow Explorers Snowmobile Club (see photo below). These souvenirs are still available for anyone who would like one from the Snow Explorers Club. The t-shirts sell for $10 for youth sizes, $12 for adult S-XL, and $13 for XXL sizes. The caps, available in three styles, are selling for $15. Hooded sweatshirts are $22 for Adult M-XL and $24 for adult XXL sizes. The adult shirts have designs on both front and back, children's t-shirts just have designs on the front. Anyone who wasn't able to buy a Snow Explorers souvenir from the Drag Race can e-mail Outlaw T's at kdunnagon@yahoo.com, or call Larry or Kara Dunnagan at 1-877-868-8529. Next
The Snow Explorers will be hosting their Daniel Poker Run on February 17th, a Steak Fry on February 23rd, and the PInedale 100 Snowmobile Race on Fremont Lake on March 9th. For more information about the snowmobile club's events, please contact Gary Neely at Bucky's Outdoors, 307-367-4561 or e-mail: buckys@wyoming.com.

Parents of Seniors
Parents of Pinedale High School Seniors who missed last Monday's planning meeting should be aware of these upcoming dates. Graduation is on Friday, May 24th and plans are now being made for the senior class party after the graduation ceremonies. The party is tentatively planned to be held in the new Pinedale Entertainment Center. The Senior Lasagna Dinner, to raise money for the senior party, is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 15th. Donation collection day is tentatively scheduled for March 19-22. Mary and Dave Lankford are the coordinators for the Senior Class party, and they welcome help from any parents, and seniors, to plan the non-alcoholic party. There will be another senior class parent meeting on Tuesday, March 5th, at the Media Center in the high school.

Mom moose and the kid munching on trees in yards in town on Sunday

These two moose were munching their way through north Pinedale yards on Sunday afternoon.
Pinedale Online photo.

Jesse Ellis Benefit Spaghetti Dinner
Sunday evening, February 3rd, more than 400 people joined the fun at the Pinedale Cafeteria to enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner that took place as a benefit to raise money to help with expenses for the family of Jesse Ellis, an 18-year old Pinedale high school senior who was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. The event included the dinner, a free-will donation bake sale, a silent auction, balloon prizes, and lots of good friends. Money raised will be matched by funds available from the Aid Association for Lutherans to go towards the family's expenses. The Pinedale Fine Arts Council generously donated the items for the silent auction that were to be used for last year's Black Tie & Blues fundraiser, which was cancelled. Auction items included tickets to the Utah Jazz game, Ballet West production tickets, Off-Broadway Theatre tickets, a pack trip into the Bridger Wilderness, fishing float trip on the Green or New Fork River, and much more.
   Jesse is currently living with his grandparents in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he is receiving chemotherapy. He must undergo a series of twelve kemotherapy treatments, one every other week. Each treatment costs over $1,000 and he has had two treatments so far. According to his mother, Patty, he may still need to undergo radiation treatments once the kemotherapy is finished, but that will be determined once he has had all the chemotherapy treatments and the doctors have evaluated his condition. It is hoped that he will be done with all his treatments in June.
   According to the KDH Hodgkin's Disease Foundation web site, victims of Hodgkin's disease cancer have a very high survival rate, up to 85% with chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic system. Cells in different parts of the body work in different ways, but all repair and reproduce themselves in the same way. Normally, this division of cells takes place in an orderly and controlled manner but if, for some reason, this process gets out of control the cells continue to divide, developing into a lump or tumour. Lymphoma cells generally grow in lymph nodes, or glands, and make them enlarge. Sometimes they can spread to affect other lymph nodes and they may occasionally enter the bloodstream which carries them to other organs. Usually, however, Hodgkin's disease involves neighbouring groups of lymph nodes. The treatment of Hodgkin's disease, even when it has spread to different areas, is usually very successful. Most people can now be cured, or their disease can be controlled for many years.
   Jesse is active in school sports and is a member of the Pinedale High School Midget hockey team. His hockey team had two days worth of home games in Pinedale on Saturday and Sunday. The team has been dedicating their games to Jesse ever since they heard the news of his illness. Patty said Jesse will graduate in May of this year and plans to attend Boise State in the fall. "He is upbeat and positive and anxious to see all of his friends and come home," she told us during the benefit. The final count wasn't in yet on the money raised, but early estimates are that donations came close to the $10,000 they had hoped to raise.
   Many people and organizations helped put on the benefit for Jesse and donated auction and prize items. Sponsors were the Aid Association for Lutherans Branch 5200, the Sublette Center, The Pinedale Fine Arts Council, the Pinedale Hockey Association, and Saint Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church. Jesse is the son of Patty and Mark Ellis of Pinedale.

Big Piney & Pinedale Blood Drives
February 6th & 7th
Big Piney and Pinedale High Schools are both sponsoring blood drives in February. The Big Piney drive is on Wednesday, Feb 6th, from 1 pm - 7 pm, and Pinedale High School's is on Thursday, February 7th, from 1 pm - 7 pm. The units are very much needed, and the schools are hoping to reach their goals of 50 units each. Everyone in the community is invited. For appointments, call Big Piney High School at 276-3324 or Pinedale High School at 367-2139.