SHERIDAN, Wyo. – Dane Steel, a talented athlete of offense, defense and special teams at Sheridan High School, was named the 2023 Wyoming Gatorade Football Player of the Year on Wednesday.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior receiver caught 44 passes for 970 yards and nine touchdowns last season, averaging 22.7 yards per reception and leading the Broncs (12-0) to their third-consecutive 4A state championship.
The Montana State commit was also a dangerous ground threat rushing 44 times for 368 yards and eight touchdowns. On special teams, he returned 23 punts for 488 yards and six scores, adding four kickoff returns for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Steel earned the 2023 MaxPreps player of the year for Wyoming and is the brother of current MSU sophomore defensive back Brock Steel and former Bobcat receiver Coy Steel.
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“You know, he’s done exceptional things, and part of a Sheridan program, the success they’ve had over the past decade and how they’re coached has been evident both with the Steel brothers and the Coon brothers here,” Bobcats’ head coach Brent Vigen said on National Signing Day in December.
MSU receivers coach Justin Udy added, “Dane is a playmaker when you look back at his season, everything he was able to accomplish as a receiver, a wildcat quarterback, a return guy, the physicality he plays with on defense.
“He’s another kid that wrestles, gives good effort, and has a really good knowledge base, a high football IQ. He makes a ton of plays. He knows how to make people miss in space, he knows how to attack the ball, how to set up routes. We’re excited to have another Steel in the program because we know the level of consistency we’ll get from him.”
Defensively, Steel made 35 tackles and recorded six interceptions, including two for a touchdown, in addition to blocking a kick and recovering two fumbles.
The 2023 Class 4A Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year and one of two 2-way selections on 2023 WyoPreps All-Championship Game team, is a two-time state wrestling champion at 152 pounds. Steel is also a two-time All-State honoree in soccer while maintaining a 4.14 weighted GPA in the classroom.
CASPER, Wyo. — Here is a list of those who filed for a divorce from Dec. 22 through Dec. 29. All filings are reported to Oil City News by the Natrona County District Court.
The log is not a comprehensive document and may not represent all of the divorces in Natrona County. The report excludes sealed cases and confidential parties.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently announced its plan to move forward in 2026 with developing Feedground Management Action Plans, a key component of the broader Wyoming Elk Feedgrounds Plan.
A release from the Game and Fish Department states that as part of the department’s statewide Chronic Management Plan, the Wyoming Elk Feedgrounds Plan was established to guide the department’s overall and long-term approach to elk management for the 21 feedgrounds across Wyoming. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved the final draft of the strategy in March 2024, following close to four years of collaborative planning with more than 60 volunteer stakeholders.
The release notes that the development of the individual FMAPs is the next step in the process. The department will be working closely with stakeholders, as well as the public, to address key concerns and priorities.
“Game and Fish remains committed to the management of our state’s feedgrounds in an adaptable manner that utilizes the best science available,” said Game and Fish director Angi Bruce. “Supplemental winter feeding of elk has continued to grow in complexity. These plans will allow us to adjust to current and future conditions in feedground management.”
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Specific FMAPs will be developed for each of the six elk herds, as well as their corresponding feedgrounds in the Jackson and Pinedale regions. They’re intended to be a playbook of strategies guiding feedground management through biological, social, and economic factors. FMAPs are designed to be adaptable as on-the-ground-conditions change and science emerges.
In early 2026, draft FMAP documents will be shared during a series of public meetings. They will be presented to the Game and Fish Commission later in the year.
“The goal of the FMAP process is to ensure our strategies are not only sustainable for our agency, but supported and beneficial to the public,” Bruce said. “This is an important issue that has an impact on our state’s wildlife, business owners and residents in our state. Their buy-in and feedback will be essential to a successful long-term plan for feedground management.”
Times and locations for the public meetings will be announced in January on the Game and Fish website. More information on elk feedgrounds, as well as the Feedground Management Plan, can be found on the Elk Feedgrounds page at the Game and Fish Department’s website.
The biggest wind gust in Colorado history blew through Monarch Pass on Feb. 16, 2018, at 148 mph. Not long after that, I moved here, in part to avoid the hurricanes that were pummeling me back East. Now I experience Hurricane Sandy-adjacent conditions while taking mail from my mailbox on random Tuesdays in Fort Collins.
I liked to think that our National Weather Service would at least give me fair warning for wind events. But now the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder is being dismantled for parts.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
That very building got smacked with a 113-mph gust on Dec. 19, two days after Peak 6 at Brekenfridge was hit with a Polar Express clocked at 124 mph. If there had been any snow, I might have been skiing there, caught air off a mogul and landed at Arapahoe Basin.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Little known fact: Colorado’s breezes are actually under the control of the four Greek gods of wind, plus their local representatives. No wonder it’s so breezy here!
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Fortunately, electric company officials employ a four-part strategy when dangerous winds threaten.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Style-conscious Coloradans are learning to cope. (Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
No one is beyond the reach of wind. Especially not Denver Broncos field-goal kicker Wil Lutz.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
As concerning as our wind situation is, there is one consolation.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
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Peter Moore is an editor, writer, illustrator, ghostwriter, co-author, radio host, TV guest, speaker, editorial consultant, and journalism lecturer.
In his most recent gig he was interim editor-in-chief of BACKPACKER magazine. Peter…
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