Wyoming Newspaper Project - Refresher Training

We will have a refresher "open house" time for anyone currently employed by the State of Wyoming and the Wyoming Newspaper Project on:

Tuesday September 30
Anytime between 8-10pm
Cokeville High School Computer Lab

Please bring your packet with password and assignment

This is not a new training for people interested. This is also not mandatory. It is simply a time to get together and figure our jobs out.

Peterson Potato Pick-up 5:30pm

Anyone who placed a Shahna Peterson Potato Order can pick those up today at 5:30pm by the Clinic. They are $12/no matter what type of potato you ordered

Economic Development Summit

Economic Development Summit
"postponed until further notice"

Once participants from various agencies have accepted and confirmed coming, we will let you know what the classes will be. This is being put on as a direct result from the interest in the Wyoming Newspaper Project, both locally and across the state. People want to know, how come 49 people in Cokeville now have part-time jobs when no one knew 49 people needed jobs? (That's addressed in a different post.)

Well, Cokeville has questions, too. And lots of them...now that the "employment bug" has bit, it's time to gain some knowledge! How to start a small business? Is there a grant for job training? Where can I turn to for information?

There will be a town meeting at 7:00pm at the Cokeville High School Auditorium that same night. This will have a panel of all our guests and will most likely be run in a question and answer type situation. We will encourage all presenters to have printed materials to hand out to those in attendance.

The Chamber of Commerce along with local economic development groups, individuals and the council representative for E.D. hope to have representatives from many economic development aspects to help our community understand all that is available for businesses, business training, grants, help for women, entering the workforce and more.

Watch cokeville.blogspot.com for more on this exciting development.

Calling Cokeville Adults to Renewable Energy Action!

Rocky Mountain Power Bill "Renewable Energy Update Forecast" this month:

(WYOMING) Communities with the highest Blue Sky participation percentage:

Wyoming
Laramie 4.60%
Lander 4.21%
Pinedale 3.14%




and I thought, for all the benefits of renewable (wind) energy...and for just $1.95 a month plus tax added on to our monthly bill to help purchase wind power, Cokeville can become the Wyoming community with the highest Blue Sky participation percentage.

Would you consider joining others in Cokeville in this great program as you pay your power bill this month? Just fill in the enclosed form if you have one, or add $1.95 to your power bill and send a note saying you want to buy one blue sky block. (Or you can buy more "blue sky blocks", in increments of $1.95, $2.05 with tax, per "block"). For the most part, I think most of us have read about this program, just not taken the time really to get to know the program.

If we sign up, and then PASS THIS MESSAGE ON (it's easy, use the email link "envelope" provided at the end of this post) and ask two people we know in town to join, we can show that we are small but mighty.

We're always collecting milk lids, soup can labels, used ink cartridges etc. for our kids at school or participating in projects to earn free stuff or get the highest school percentage, well, here's our chance as adults to do the same and to help out with wind power purchases.

I'll pass this note on to Rocky Mountain Power and ask them to track our statistics until January 2009 to see if we made a difference! THANK YOU

Direct link to the United States Treasury "Economic Plan"

http://www.ustreas.gov/economic-plan/

Hear it from the feds...first hand. ( I find the phrase, "short-term risks are to the downside", especially amusing, in a sad sort of way)

The U.S. economy is fundamentally strong, but the housing correction, credit turmoil, and high oil prices are weighing on growth this year and short-term risks are to the downside. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, signed into law on February 13, will help protect the strength of our economy as we weather the housing downturn and other challenges. This agreement includes short-term incentives to bolster business investment and consumer spending to keep our economy growing and creating jobs this year.

WANTED: Concerns and Sugestions

As a candidate for the upcoming vacant Trustee seat on the LCSD #2 School Board, I would like to gather some input on things that concern you as a:
* Parent
* Teacher
* Student
* All Other School Staff
* Town Citizens

~ I want to present a platform of open-door fairness, with no prejudicial or preconceived ideas or agendas.

~ I want to be a FRESH, STRONG VOICE for Cokeville that will benefit our school system and help to give a fair and challenging learning arena for our students and a place for our great teachers to do what they do best... "TEACH"!

~ To help give our teachers the freedom to use their acquired teaching skills with creativity that will bring a new "hunger for learning" to our students!

~ We need a new spark of enthusiam in all our subjects and sporting programs and other extra-curricular activities that will help to give our students a well-rounded educational experience.

~ We must NEVER forget that the end product and goal is working together for our children to get the best education possible.

~ I want to help create (if need be) and preserve an open-door environment for our parents, teachers, and principals to work together with our children's education process.

~ I want to help create (if need be) and preserve an open-door policy for our parents, teachers, and principals to work together with our School Board members to achieve an effective education of our children.

Help me accomplish this by voting for me on Nov. 4th. Together we can make this happen!!

You can reach me via email: jcreed@allwest.net or creed@allwest.net or 279-3386 my home phone number. I look forward to hearing from you. Also, please feel assured that confidentiality is always my policy.

Thank you for your vote,
Carolyn Reed

Homecoming Week 2008

This week is the Cokeville High School Homecoming week starting with Monday being the first day of Spirit week at the high school with "pajama day"

Other events include:
A dress up day each day of the week for the high school
The community tailgate party on Thursday at 6pm - street party - lighting of the "C" - bonfire
(I believe the community tailgate is bring your own meat, and a large or extra large salad or dessert or potluck to share...)

FRIDAY: Program at auditorium-9:00 am

Parade-11:00 am

Football-1:30 pm (Wyoming Indian)

Volleyball-4 & 5 pm (Kemmerer)

ALSO, students DO GO TO SCHOOL on Friday in both the elementary school and the high school, with an early release for the football game...

If anyone has more information please feel free to send it on!
This is one of those weeks where it's fun for the whole town to get involved...lots of community spirit and lots of fun photo op's!

Cokeville P.E.

You know you there's something special about Cokeville when the superintendent "comes down" from Afton and helps out at a PE class!

Lincoln County Leadership Institute 2008-2009

Lincoln County Leadership Institute 2008-2009

Purpose
The Lincoln County Leadership Institute will foster the development of leadership skills and abilities and provide an understanding of community resources and issues.

Objectives

• Training in leadership concepts and techniques
• Personal growth and self-efficiency
• Motivation for greater community involvement
• Improve relationships between people, organizations and communities
• Increased understanding of issues, economics and resources

Description
The Lincoln County Leadership Institute will provide both educational and participatory experiences to enhance leadership skills and effectiveness.

Course Outline
The Institute consists of one full day session per month for seven months. Each session will have a theme and will be conducted by qualified instructors at various locations in Lincoln County. Each month participants also attend a scheduled Community Based Experience. (CBE)

Leadership Styles True Colors
October 30, Kemmerer

Team Building/Creativity/Social Action Process
December 4, Alpine

Effective Meeting Management and Facilitation
January 15, Kemmerer

Decision Making, Change and Generational Differences
February 19, Cokeville

Individual Assessment Day
March 19, Afton

Communication and Conflict Resolution
April 16, Afton

Social Responsibility and Graduation
May 7, Cokeville


Selection
LCLI is open to emerging and established leaders who wish to increase their leadership skills, knowledge and participation in the community. Tuition is $150 which includes instruction, materials and meals. Participants must provide their own transportation. Attendance is required for the first session and is expected at all other sessions. Participants absent from more than one session will not graduate. Class size will be limited to 18 participants. Selections of participants will be based on criteria specified on the application form. Application deadline is October 1, 2008.

Application
Applications are available at: Lincoln County Extension Offices, Kemmerer Chamber of Commerce, Afton Chamber of Commerce and Cokeville Town Hall (Karla Toomer has applications in Cokeville, as well)


Information taken from the Leadership Institute brochure. Every class has had Cokeville graduates. The first three years the LCLI was an annual event, with two Cokeville graduates the first year, one the second year, and two the third year. Now we have gone to bi-annual. Please consider taking this leadership course. It does not provide specific training (i.e. how to run municipal government) but more in concepts, techniques, and understanding of general leadership skills and abilities.

Many employers are very willing to let their employees have a a paid day off to attend the trainings. Often, employers will cover the $150 cost of LCLI, knowing that the skills their employees gain will benefit everyone. If you are a member of a board or civic group, often they will sponsor individuals.

You do not need to be on a board or government organization currently to apply. "LCLI is open to emerging and established leaders who wish to increase their leadership skills, knowledge and participation in the community"

School Board Candidate - Christine Call

Hi, I'm Christine Call and I am running for the School Board in the
"At-Large" area. This election year is one of opportunity. The opportunity to elect individuals that believe similarly as we do. The opportunity to elect individuals that will invite us to take an active part with them in making decisions that will have an impact on the education of our children.
Some of my platform basics: 1. Put students first. We begin each school year with roughly $38 million dollars. Cost should never factor in when deciding what is best for the student. 2.Download district policies to the internet. Everyone should have access to them. 3. Keep the public informed and encourage their input. 4. Review and amend policies. Should a school be allowed to "strip search" our children without notifying us? Existing policy says yes. 5. Allow teachers the freedom to tailor curriculum to meet individual needs of the student. 6. Hire and promote from within the school & community. 7. Have open communication and transparent governance. I'm asking for your vote this coming November and together we can bring about change and make a positive difference within our School District.

Note: Keep in mind four terms on the School Board expire this year. We
can elect four NEW Board members.

Christine Call

New To Cokeville? Looking for work or employees?

This article is seventh in an on-going series titled, "New to Cokeville?" of informational articles on public services and recreation opportunities offered in or near the town of Cokeville. (Also odd or quirky or "good to know" things about our small town.) To view other articles in the "New to Cokeville?" series, scroll down to "Labels" and click on "New to Cokeville?". You'll be able to view the entire series.

This article is a quick reference to the State of Wyoming, Department of Workforce Services. They have several programs with the Workforce Investment Act including the Dislocated Worker Program, Adult Training Program, Work Experience, Youth Training Program, and On-The-Job Training. They also have the Career Training Program.

Are you or someone you know looking for work or need workers for your business? There are great programs offered through the State of Wyoming, Department of Workforce Services.

Wanda Newman is the Business Representative for the Kemmerer Workforce Center. Her phone number is 307-877-5501 or email her at wnewma@state.wy.us

The Career Training Program helps businesses train their workers for their specific jobs! The training can be used for current employees of for training prior to employment. For the period ending June 2008, Wyoming Department of Workforces services funded up to $3000 per trainee per year.

For this program, businesses and trainees must be registered on WyomingatWork site, www.wyomingatwork.com

Trainees must be 18 years of age, and able to work legally in the USA, and can't be on a temporary visa. Male trainees born after Jan. 1, 1960 must be registered for Selective Service.


Workforce Investment Act - Youth Training Program is a federally funded training program. The program provides a monetary incentive for employers to hire and provide basic and occupational skills training to youth between the ages of 14 and 21. There is a non-binding contract "Work Experience" where the employer provides work-based training to youth and the Workforce Center agrees to reimburse the employer 100% of the employees' wages up to 400 hours, along with the employer's share of FICA and Workers Compensations taxes. (Youth must be covered through Worker's Comp or private insurance.)

Workforce Investment Act - Adult Training Program is available to those individuals who are age 18 or older; AND who are either recently unemployed, long term unemployed or under-employed; AND who have been unsuccessful in obtaining employment. If you qualify for the Adult Program, funds may be available to assist you in obtaining classroom training to upgrade your skills, or participate in a Work Experience for career exploration, or in an On-The-Job Training agreement in which you work and earn wages while you upgrade your skills with any employer. In many instances, a combination of both classroom and hands-on training is available, depending on the individual's needs.

Workforce Investment Act - On-The-Job Training provides a monetary incentive for the employers to hire and train unskilled adults, who meet the low income and eligibility requirements. There are requirements but basically, there is an agreement that says the on-the-job training will lead to self-supporting and continued employment. (Employee is reimbursed 50% of the individual's wage during ojt period)

Workforce Investment Act - Work Experience provides a monetary incentive for the employers to hire and train unskilled adults, who meet the low income and eligibility requirements. There are requirements but basically, at the end of 400 hours, there is no obligation on either party's part to continue employment. (Employee is reimbursed 100% of wages and the cost of Worker's Compensation coverage during that time period)

Workforce Investment Act - Dislocated Worker Program provides qualified individuals assistance with possible tuition an books for classroom, vocational, and/or technical training. Depending on the available funding, the program allows for up to two years of the above mentioned training, one semester at a time.

IF you are interested in the possibilities of W.I.A. funds of Dislocated Worker Training Program, or if you have questions, please call the Kemmerer Workforce Center at 307-877-5501 Monday to Friday from 8AM to 5PM to receive more information, or schedule an appointment!


INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS POST IS TAKEN FROM DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES MATERIALS BUT IT IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THEM. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF ACCURACY. YOU MUST CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES, 307 877 5501, FOR COMPLETE, ACCURATE, AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.

Witness to Miracles - New Shipment In

The Cokeville Miracle Foundation just received a new shipment of both hard and soft bound books of "Witness to Miracles: Remembering the Cokeville Elementary School Bombing."
Price: $35 hard
Price: $25 soft
The Cokeville Miracle Foundation also has the newest edition of Hartt and Judene Wixom's "To Save the Children" available. Cost for soft bound book is $14.99

Anyone wishing to buy both the "Witness to Miracles" book and "To Save the Children" may do so for $10 more than the price of the "Witness to Miracles" book alone. (Save $4.99) Must mention this price, limited to books on hand.

Inquire at 307 279 3471 or karla_toomer@yahoo.com

Cokeville Historical Society Mtg. Postponed

The monthly meeting of the Cokeville Historical Society will be held on Thursday September 25th at 12:30, not this week. The change is for several reasons. Arlene Kennington will be the speaker. The Promise newsletter is being mailed to members today. Look for more information.

The public is always welcome to hear the speakers. Of course, you can always join as a member, too, and get the monthly newsletter as well as all the benefits from being a part of the Wyoming State Historical Society. Visit the Cokeville Historical Society site and join today!

New to Cokeville? Worried About Your Heating Bill?

This article is sixth in an on-going series titled, "New to Cokeville?" of informational articles on public services and recreation opportunities offered in or near the town of Cokeville. (Also odd or quirky or "good to know" things about our small town.) To view other articles in the "New to Cokeville?" series, scroll down to "Labels" and click on "New to Cokeville?". You'll be able to view the entire series.

This article is a quick reference to the Wyoming Department of Family Services LIEAP (lee-ap) program. Assistance with heating costs are based solely on household size compared to household income.


This is copied from a card by LIEAP. (I helped a lady once with the LIEAP application and if I remember right, she had to send in a pay check or two and her last heating bill and the name of the place she bought propane from. It wasn't that difficult and the only requirement is meeting the income levels listed below.)

Worried about your heating bill?
Maybe we can help.

The Wyoming LIEAP (lee-ap) program reduces the amount you pay to heat your home through a credit on your bill. The Wyoming Weatherization Program helps you stay warm and use heat in a more efficient way.

Get the application at your local senior center, from your heating company, a Department of Family Services office or online.

To learn more.
1-800-246-4221 or http://dfsweb.state.wy.us/lieap/lieap.html

Get help heating your home today.

You qualify if your income is less than:
-Single people - $1863 a month
-Two-person households - $2508 a month
- Family of four - $3798 a month

New to Cokeville? Lincoln County Public Health Nurse

This article is fifth in an on-going series titled, "New to Cokeville?" of informational articles on public services and recreation opportunities offered in or near the town of Cokeville. (Also odd or quirky or "good to know" things about our small town.) To view other articles in the "New to Cokeville?" series, scroll down to "Labels" and click on "New to Cokeville?". You'll be able to view the entire series.

This article is a quick reference to the Lincoln County Public Health Nurse. This office is under the STATE OF WYOMING - Department of Health.

The Lincoln County Health Nurse Offices are located in Kemmerer and Afton. Cokeville is usually served through the Kemmerer office.

Many low cost (or no cost) service are offered through the Public Health Nurse monthly visit to Cokeville. The new time (as of Sept. 2008) is at 1pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

This is a great place to get kids' immunizations. They bring what they need to the town hall.

To contact the Lincoln County Public Health Nurse:
Kemmerer Phone: 307 877 3780
toll free: 1800 442 9001 ext 406

Poetry Out Loud - Email from Mike Shay WAC

Mike Shay (Wyoming Arts Council) sent me the following email:

The Wyoming Arts Council runs the Poetry Out Loud competition for high school students each year. Cokeville H.S. sent a participant to the state finals a few years back but hasn't participated since. Can you spread the word about it on your blogs?

Here are some details from the wyomingarts blog:


The teachers spoke and we listened.

The Poetry Out Loud recitation competition, previously conducted during the winter and spring, has a new schedule.

It will be held in Wyoming September through November during the 2008-2009 school year. The school competitions can be held any time after school starts (late August for most districts) up until the end of October. The finals in Cheyenne will be on Nov. 17-18.

During previous years, schools participating in POL conducted their competitions in January and February and traveled to Cheyenne in mid-March. But teachers and students alike complained that that part of the school year is crammed full of events, including the speech/debate season, standardized tests, sports events, and spring break. So the Wyoming Arts Council has moved the schedule to the fall.

The competition is open to high school students, grades 9-12, in language arts, speech/debate and drama classes. Teachers can sign up their classes by calling Mike Shay at the Wyoming Arts Council, 307-777-5234. Poetry Out Loud is open to public and private school students, as well as home school associations.

Students participating in the program memorize and perform three poems included in material provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Each school sends its winner to the state finals, with that winner going to the national competition in Washington, D.C., in April. Students can win cash prizes and scholarships. Their school libraries can also win collections of poetry books. For details, go to the Poetry Out Loud web site at www.poetryoutloud.org.

As school begins across the state during the next two weeks, keep in mind Poetry Out Loud. Call the Arts Council at 307-777-7742, or check out our web site at wyoarts.state.wy.us.

Thanks, Mike

Ten Virgins in Afton

There aren't many ladies in the world like Dotty Jo Pope. She once again agreed to take her traveling production of "The Ten Virgins" out of the storage boxes and onto the road. This time, destination Afton.

Around 350 young adults and their leaders were able to experience the virtues and vices of the 10 virgins arranged and produced by Dotty Jo Pope and I'm sure she would add a special thanks to her family and friends. You are an amazing woman, thanks for sharing your many talents with us.

You can click here to see a slide show from a production in Kemmerer, Wyoming in the spring of 2008.

Not about the "decision"

Wow, there is a lot of interest in the "decision" made by the town council, as evident by telephone and email conversations. I just want to restate that my earlier post was not about the decision by the town council...rather about the way in which it was made. (Taken any other way is taken wrong). When we elect officials, we elect their decisions. If we don't like the decisions, then we should elect different people.

Many of your concerns are valid but the proper place to express those, if you feel inclined, is at the Town Council meetings. They are held every 2nd Tuesday at 7pm. (Sometimes December's is different, watch for announcement of change)

Sometimes a council (and I mean ANY council or board) may bark or snap or get defensive instead of answer legitimate questions or concerns...and

yes...that isn't the most comfortable position and it seems like a good reason to stay away from meetings and not express concerns or views. HOWEVER, is it right to feel intimidated? If you have a question, go to the meetings and listen, perhaps it will be answered. Stop saying it won't make a difference.

I am amazed at how many feel strongly about issues...and more amazed that more of you aren't at public meetings...

Wyoming Newspaper Project - worker update

This post concerns all those who have currently had training for the Wyoming Newspaper Project. Please log onto the cokevillewsl.blogspot site if you want more information. Although that is an informal site, it is where most recent items are posted. Also, I have listed a way we might be able to help get more funding for others who would like this type of job. Please add to the site if you can.

I was at the peewee football game today and there seems to be a a few rumors starting little fires. I can't put any of the fires out, but we can all just remember that our training was just about a month ago. It wasn't in July. Yes, it's taken longer than any of us thought to be mailed our contracts, but we aren't the only ones in the state waiting, either. Hopefully we will hear something soon, or see our contracts in the mail.

Please, DO NOT START calling all over the state of Wyoming trying to speed things up or whatever. Everything has order and I believe the state of Wyoming will follow the correct processes. We don't need to give them a headache.

Acknowledge Dayton Comments

I would like to acknowledge Charles Dayton from the Town Council for his comments regarding the dismissal of the town's newest hire, our third police officer. I want to thank Dayton for realizing the post wasn't about the town council's decision, which I'm sure was very difficult, but about the perception about how it was handled.

Sometimes, comments are buried in a blog and if you are interested in reading them, you can click here and then click on the comments

About this site

It's never too late to put a disclaimer. This is NOT the town of Cokeville's website. In fact, at the time of this writing, the Town of Cokeville has chosen to leave their website off the internet after a former employee removed it.

This is a personal blogspot, with one administrator who has authorized two other people to post directly to the site. A third person asked and I sent an invite, which has not been accepted at this time. I am very open to allowing other people to have the opportunity to post directly to the site, namely: The high school/elementary school principal, a PTO rep, an EMS rep, a Fire Rep, an historical society rep, a town council rep. etc. As this is my site, I will monitor how content is posted if I need to...facts welcome, announcements welcome, educated opinions welcome, stupidity, meanness...not welcome.

There is a privacy policy, but with the amount of hits this blog receives, I felt "About this site" was needed at this point in time
Thank you

Cokeville Employment Issue

I am going to take the opportunity to address the recent massive pending employment of 49 people from the Cokeville area. However, I am going to post at the www.wyomingflavor.blogspot.com website, or you can click here, as it is applicable to the entire state of Wyoming.

This post may come today, although I have been putting off any publicity until contracts have been signed and returned to the state. Please watch for this post in the very near future.

Third Police Officer? No More...

Last night the Cokeville Town Council apparently decided to not retain their recent hire as the town's third police officer.

At the end of last night's town council meeting, the council went into executive session. When they came out, no mention was made of what happened in the executive session. The officer and his family were informed after council meeting that he would no longer be employed by the town, effective immediately.



NOTE: This has been modified from the original post. Although the person involved stated it was fine as written and in fact had no problem with this post, I have chosen to modify this post, including removing the name of the individual involved, for various reasons. Thank you

Ambassadors for Cokeville

Every time anyone from Cokeville travels around our great state of Wyoming, they have the opportunity to act as ambassadors for Cokeville.

Charlotte Freeman and I had this great opportunity last week as we spent 5 days traveling the state. We represented the Cokeville Historical Society at the annual meeting of the Wyoming State Historical Society. It was great to meet all the people who helped Cokeville's chapter during our first year!

We met authors - professional and hobbyists, bought books, ate good food, made friends, networked, hung out with other Lincoln County folks, took a coal mine tour, viewed historic sites and of course...took pictures!

Here is a slide show about Karla and Charlotte and the "fun" part of our trip...starting with the couple we met at the beginning of our trip at Cokeville's own Flying J. This couple from Helsinki was traveling "avound de vowld" which I finally figured out meant around the world...my gift of tongues is a little slow at times :)

To view our complete collection of Wyoming State Historical Society annual meeting photos, please click here or go directly to the site at www.cokevillehistory.blogspot.com

Global Warming...

click here to do a reality check...on global warming...

PTO meeting tonight

Hey, just a quick reminder, there is a PTO meeting tonight (Mon, Sep. 1) at 4:00 at the Elementry library. Unfortunately, no reminders were sent home with the kids, so tell a friend, and we'll see you there!