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Wyoming Sun Bucks is a net gain for children, families

Dear Casper,

Rep. Ken Pendergraft’s recent column opposing the Sun Bucks program raises concerns about cost, but it does so in a way that risks giving readers an incomplete picture.

It is true that the Department of Family Services requested approximately $3.5 million for startup and operations. However, that figure represents a combined state and federal investment, split evenly. Wyoming’s share is half of that — and more importantly, those dollars are not intended to purchase food directly. They fund the administrative framework required to deliver federally funded benefits to eligible children.

Those responsibilities are not trivial. They include verifying eligibility, processing applications, maintaining technology systems, preventing fraud and ensuring benefits are accurately distributed. Without that infrastructure, the program simply cannot function, and no child would receive assistance.

The initial startup cost of $1.6 million covers one-time expenses such as building the IT system, setting up application processing, contracting with the EBT vendor that issues and loads benefit cards, and establishing temporary staffing and support systems to serve families statewide. This is not “an office for one person,” but the foundation of a program designed to reach roughly 32,000 children.

Once operational, the ongoing cost to Wyoming is estimated at about $483,000 per year in state funds. In return, the program would deliver approximately $3.84 million annually in federal food benefits to Wyoming children. That is a significant net gain for families across the state.

While the article emphasizes administrative expenses, it overlooks the scale of the benefit those costs unlock. The question is not whether administration exists — it must — but whether the outcome justifies the investment. In this case, a relatively modest state contribution enables millions in direct food assistance to flow into Wyoming communities.

Reasonable people can debate the role of government programs. But that debate should be grounded in a full accounting of both costs and benefits. When viewed in that light, the Sun Bucks program is less about bureaucracy and more about whether Wyoming chooses to participate in a federally funded effort to help ensure children have access to food during the summer months.

Mike Thompson, Chairman of the Department of Family Services Oversight Council
Evansville

Wyoming GOP endorsement of candidates

Dear Casper,

I have read about the plans for the Wyoming Republican party to endorse specific candidates in the upcoming primary election. It is my understanding that the state law currently prevents the Wyoming Republican party from officially endorsing a candidate. I agree with the party’s position that this is not in keeping with the party and its members’ First Amendment right to free speech.

However, I think that the party should be careful in exercising this right. As the purpose of the primary election is to select the candidate that the majority of the registered Republican party members feel is best suited for the position, it feels like there could be a conflict of interest in explicitly endorsing a specific candidate without receiving the input from all of the registered members of the party.

Without seeking the input of the entire Republican electorate, how will the party itself provide a fair and accurate endorsement of a candidate? I certainly hope that the party leadership is not intending to offer an endorsement on behalf of the entire party based simply on what they (the leadership) might believe. To offer such an endorsement without seeking the input from all of the party members would be anti-democratic and would invoke Orwellian images of the party which, rather than listening to and responding to the input from the party members, would tell the party members what they should think.

If the members of the party leadership wish to offer an endorsement, they should do so as individuals and should not presume to speak for the entire membership of the party, at least not before the entire Republican electorate has had a chance to provide input regarding a party-level endorsement.

To circumvent this problem, I would recommend that the Republican party hold a vote among all of its registered members to determine whom the party ought to endorse. Maybe we could hold an event where polling places are established, where party members can go to indicate their preference for that endorsement. This would provide a fair and democratic method to ensure that the Republican party’s endorsement reflects the will of the party members.

I think that there might be an event similar to what I have described scheduled for Aug. 18. Maybe the party could do more or less the same thing for their endorsement event — or just wait until then.

Carlos Buckner
Casper

Related

The 2026 Wyoming High School boys’ soccer season is close to its finish. Only three weeks remain. 4A teams will conclude the regular season, as they jockey for positions going into next week’s regional tournaments. Meanwhile, 3A schools have this week and next week left in the regular season. They are trying to reach the top four of the league standings, as those are the teams that qualify for the state tournament in two weeks.

WYOPREPS WEEK 8 BOYS SOCCER SCHEDULE 2026

Three matches this week feature ranked opponents squaring off. Sheridan will host Thunder Basin on Friday. In 3A on Saturday, top-ranked Cody is at No. 5 Mountain View, and four-rated Torrington goes to No. 2 Buffalo. Just like the ladies, you have some rivalry matches on the schedule with Rock Springs-Green River, Jackson-Star Valley, and Thunder Basin-Campbell County. Wednesday will bring new soccer rankings. This is the boys’ schedule for Week 8. Schedules are subject to change.

TUESDAY, MAY 5:

CLASS 4A

Final Score: #2 Sheridan 2 Campbell County 1 (conference match)

Final Score: Riverton 3 Natrona County 1 (conference match)

CLASS 3A

Pinedale at Rawlins – postponed to May 11 – changed to May 9 for boys’ match only!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6:

CLASS 4A

Laramie at Cheyenne Central – postponed to May 9

Cheyenne South at Cheyenne East – postponed to May 9

Read More Soccer News from WyoPreps

WyoPreps Boys Soccer Standings on 5-4-26

WyoPreps Week 7 Boys Soccer Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Soccer Polls 4-29-26

Nominate a Boys Soccer Player for WyoPreps Athlete of the Week

WyoPreps Week 6 Boys Soccer Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches & Media Soccer Polls 4-22-26

WyoPreps Boys Soccer Standings on 4-20-26

WyoPreps Week 5 Boys Soccer Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches & Media Soccer Polls 4-15-26

WyoPreps Week 4 Boys Soccer Scores 2026

WyoPreps Week 3 Boys Soccer Scores 2026

WyoPreps Week 2 Boys Soccer Scores 2026

WyoPreps Week 1 Boys Soccer Scores 2026

THURSDAY, MAY 7:

CLASS 4A

Final Score: #1 Jackson 8 Star Valley 2 (conference match)

Final Score: #4 Thunder Basin 3 Campbell County 1 (conference match)

Final Score: Rock Springs 2 #5 Green River 1 (conference match)

FRIDAY, MAY 8:

CLASS 4A

Final Score: Cheyenne Central 6 Cheyenne South 0 (conference match)

Final Score: #2 Sheridan 3 #4 Thunder Basin 1 (conference match)

Final Score: #2 Kelly Walsh 6 Riverton 0 (conference match)

Final Score: Laramie 3 Cheyenne East 1 (conference match)

Final Score: Evanston 2 Natrona County 2 – TIE (conference match) – Red Devils scored with 1 second left for the draw.

CLASS 3A

Final Score: #4 Worland 1 Rawlins 0 (conference match) – Kobe Bradshaw scored the GW goal on a PK in the 1st half.

Final Score: Douglas 2 Torrington 2 (conference match) – Shootout = Torrington wins 4-3!

Final Score: #1 Cody  Lyman  (conference match)

Final Score: #2 Lander 3 Pinedale 0 (conference match)

Final Score: Powell 1 #5 Mountain View 0 (conference match) – Gianrey Dallesandro with the GW-goal, assisted by Ethan Frame.

Final Score: #3 Buffalo 1 Newcastle 0 (conference match) – forfeit win for the Bison.

SATURDAY, MAY 9:

CLASS 4A

Laramie at Cheyenne Central, 11 a.m. (conference match)

Evanston at #2 Kelly Walsh, noon (conference match)

Cheyenne South at Cheyenne East, noon (conference match)

Riverton at Natrona County, noon (conference match)

Rock Springs at Star Valley, 1 p.m. (conference match)

CLASS 3A

Pinedale at Rawlins, 11 a.m.

#1 Cody at #5 Mountain View, noon (conference match)

Powell at Lyman, noon (conference match)

Torrington at #3 Buffalo, 2 p.m. (conference match)

#4 Worland at Douglas, 2 p.m. (conference match)

Final Score: Rawlins 1 Newcastle 0 (conference match) – forfeit win for the Outlaws.

James Forest Mothersbaugh Jr.: 1953 – 2025

James “Jim” Forest Mothersbaugh Jr. passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper, Wyoming, from complications of Multiple System Atrophy. He is survived by his wife, Becky Mothersbaugh; his sons, James Forest Mothersbaugh III and Blair Mothersbaugh; and Blair’s fiancée, Kelsey Baron.

Jim’s life was defined by music. He was a highly accomplished violinist, performing with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Puerto Rico, Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, and Savannah Symphony, among many others. He held degrees in violin performance, music education, and conducting from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut, with additional doctoral studies at the University of Iowa. He met his wife when they were both performing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and passed his musical acumen to both of his sons. Jim taught orchestra and music theory to generations of students of all ages & abilities during his 28 years in the Natrona County School District. He conducted award-winning orchestras, taught students who went on to become professional musicians, and instilled a sense of purpose, character, and belief in both his students and colleagues that extended far beyond the stage. He was also an expert in the craft of re-hairing bows for string instruments, knew everything there is to know about The Beatles, and possessed a rare ability called synesthesia, which allowed him to see specific colors when hearing music. He leaves an extensive, enduring, and active legacy in the Wyoming musical community.

Jim will be immensely missed by his family, his friends, his colleagues, and his students. A celebration of life will take place at Backwards Distilling Company in Casper, Wyoming on June 28, 2026 from 2 to 5 p.m. Please RSVP at https://jimsmemorial.rsvpify.com/.

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