Wyoming
Live at the Dietrich: Winter Fest films prove popular
Last weekend I had the pleasure of introducing my daughter, April, to Dietrich film festivals, having shared the experience with my two sons.
April is from the second biggest city in Illinois — Aurora, a city of 200,000 or so, a river city like Tunkhannock. Aurora is rich in theatre and restaurant opportunities, but it has nothing like a film festival. I told her that during her long weekend stay we could see any movies she would like to see. I thought she might want to see two or three, but she picked out five films.
So in four days we saw five Winter Fest films, joined by family and friends. Of course we went to Opening Night to see “Conclave,” a very timely film, rich in beautiful scenes of the Vatican. Afterwards everyone wanted to talk about the ending. But we were not surprised that it won so many awards. The very next day we saw “All We Imagine as Light,” a beautiful film that gives us an up close and personal glimpse into another way of life in India in all its challenges and beauty.
“Every Little Thing” was her next choice, a documentary about a hummingbird rescuer in California, a habitat for many varieties of hummingbirds. We learn how Terry Masear brings injured hummingbirds back to good health in her lovely home, equipped with a state-of-the-art rescue center. To me the fascinating story that we learned is how her role as rescuer relates to her own life, a really special film.
The other two films were “Vermiglio,” this time taking us to an Italian mountain village and “Oh, Canada,” starring Richard Gere as an aging and ailing filmmaker wanting to tell his life story in a documentary, including a confession to his wife, before he dies.
All of these films inspired discussion at the end of the showings. Many times we had to stay in our seats to share interpretations. Many times friends and acquaintances came over to share their comments. We should be so proud to have these films shown right here in our town of 1700 or so.
Speaking of the need for discussion of foreign and independent films, the day after Winter Fest, our own film booker Ronnie Harvey will lead the Post Film Fest Discussion on Friday, March 14 at 1 p.m. All are welcome. Come and ask your questions, find out which films you missed that others recommend. Come for discussion and camaraderie and lots of fun.
Then at the Dietrich is a return of Leprechaun Lore with Storyteller Hal Pratt on Saturday, March 15 at 11 a.m. This is the best way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Hal is the only one who can tell you all you need to know about leprechauns and then turn into one. I have been to every performance over the years and I will be there for sure this year. This performance is good for all ages. It is free. And you are invited.
Coming up on Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. is another kind of film experience. Buster Keaton’s “Sherlock Jr.” with R.E.M: A Silents Synced Film. This is so cool! A silent film paired with rock music performed 70 years later. Come see Buster Keaton’s silent slapstick comedy, accompanied by 1990s music.
Tickets are $8.50 each. To get yours, stop at the ticket booth or call the Dietrich at 570-836-1022, x3.
The free showing of “Glory” at the Dietrich on Feb. 23 was sponsored by the Ezra Griffin GAR Museum in Scranton. It was a powerful event. Former Examiner editor Bob Baker spoke about some of the 52nd Regt. Co. B soldiers (192 in all recruited in Wyoming County), including Philo Burr of Meshoppen, who was second in command 160 years ago when the Union flag was placed atop Fort Sumter for the first time since the start of the Civil War there four years earlier.
So much awaits you right here in historic downtown Tunkhannock. We hope we see you
CASPER, Wyo. — High school athletics in Wyoming could see some drastic changes in the coming years following legislative changes to the state’s education budget, the Wyoming High School Activities Association recently announced in a statement.
According to the WHSAA, Wyoming school districts are facing a projected $3.9 million shortfall in activities funding, forcing officials to consider significant cuts to high school sports and extracurricular programs.
The WHSAA shared details regarding a new “silo” funding model implemented by the Legislature, stating that the recalibrated block grant model reduced funding for student activities and extra-duty responsibilities from $46.3 million to $42.4 million, an approximately 8.4% decrease statewide.
WHSAA Commissioner Trevor Wilson said the restructuring also restricts district access to an additional $76.2 million in previously flexible funding.
“A significant portion of the [April 28 WHSAA Board of Directors] meeting was dedicated to discussing the projected funding shortfall,” Wilson wrote.
The WHSAA is weighing several strategies to address rising costs with fewer resources. Proposed changes include eliminating regional tournaments and reducing the number of teams qualifying for state events from eight to four; limiting wrestling to two classes and restricting track and field state participants to the top 16 marks; making cuts to soccer, indoor track and field, Nordic and Alpine skiing, swimming and diving, spring golf and tennis; and reducing in-person speech and debate events by half and centrally locating All-State Music events to minimize travel. The board also recommended increasing gate admission or implementing student participation fees to offset costs.
While the WHSAA release states that no plans have been finalized and the various changes are currently just possibilities, Natrona County School District 1 Board of Trustees member Mary Schmidt criticized the WHSAA’s handling of the news at Monday’s board meeting.
“I take some issues with this, [including] the sheer fact that we as Board of Trustees members have not talked about that at all,” Schmidt said. “It is not our intent and it has not been brought to us to cut our athletics or activities budget for the upcoming school year. … I take issue with them picking sports and getting the community upset and ginning them up to be upset that this is all going to be cut when that hasn’t been discussed.”
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Angela Hensley clarified that Natrona County School District 1’s athletics and activities budget saw a reduction of roughly $550,000 in the coming year’s budget, but said the local school district does not plan to cut any sports.
“Thank you, Trustee Schmidt, for saying this, because I think people are wondering — we are not planning to cut athletics and activities for next year,” Hensley said. “We do have to take a look at our entire budget as we have talked about, as we learn more about these new rules that come in.”
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Republished with permission from Wyoming News Now, a TV news outlet covering the Cheyenne and Casper areas.
Cheyenne City Council has introduced a temporary moratorium, or pause, on new data center construction.
“The end goal is to actually have regulations in place, to have really heavy public involvement with this with data centers,” said Councilman Mark Moody.
The proposed ordinance is not a permanent ban on data centers and would not affect data centers currently under construction.
Councilman Moody says this is a bipartisan issue.
“I just want to make this clear, I’m not against data centers. We do need them from a national security perspective,” he said.
He said there needs to be more public input and regulations regarding data centers in Cheyenne.
The ordinance would require city staff to study data center impacts such as electricity usage, electricity tariffs, closed-loop cooling systems, groundwater impacts, agricultural impacts, and land value.
Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development corporation for Cheyenne and Laramie County, reported in November 2025 that there are 12 operational data centers in Wyoming, five under construction and plans for 43 data centers announced across the state.
“There needs to be more public input with this, and also to see how many we can sustain here in this community, cause there are talks of 43, and then another day 70. How many can we sustain here?” said Councilman Moody.
The proposed moratorium will now go to the Public Services Committee on Monday, May 18 at noon in the Municipal Building.
Sheridan will play in the North Regional Tournament at Gillette, while the South Regional Tournament will be played at Rock Springs.
North Regional Tournament at Gillette:
Checking record vs. highest team in the quadrant not involved in the tie, Thunder Basin gets the #1 Northeast seed over Campbell County, because the Lady Bolts went 3-1 vs. Sheridan, whereas the Lady Camels went 2-2.
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 NE) Thunder Basin vs. (#4 NW) Jackson – 11am
(#2 NW) Natrona County vs. (#3 NE) Sheridan – 11am
(#2 NE) Campbell County vs. (#3 NW) Kelly Walsh – 1pm
(#1 NW) Cody vs. (#4 NE) Worland – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Thunder Basin/Jackson winner vs. Natrona County/Sheridan winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh winner vs. Cody/Worland winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Thunder Basin/Jackson loser vs. Natrona County/Sheridan loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh loser vs. Cody/Worland loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
South Regional Tournament at Rock Springs:
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 SW) Laramie vs. (#4 SE) Torrington – 11am
(#2 SE) Cheyenne East vs. (#3 SW) Green River – 11am
(#2 SW) Rock Springs vs. (#3 SE) Wheatland – 1pm
(#1 SE) Cheyenne Central vs. (#4 SW) Cheyenne South – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Laramie/Torrington winner vs. Cheyenne East/Green River winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Rock Springs/Wheatland winner vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Laramie/Torrington loser vs. Cheyenne East/Green River loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Rock Springs/Wheatland loser vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
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