Wyoming

Team Wyoming Dominating Team Roping in 2nd Go Round – SweetwaterNOW

Published

2 years ago

July 19, 2024

Team Wyoming Dominating Team Roping in 2nd Go Round – SweetwaterNOW

ROCK SPRINGS – The National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) continues to dwindle down to the wire with the Wyoming team dominating the team roping event for the second go-round. There are four separate groups for Team Wyoming in the top ten claiming, first, third, sixth, and 10th place.

In total team points, the Wyoming Girls are in second place while Team Wyoming is 3rd overall.

For the local Sweetwater County kids, Jacob Cook is still awaiting his run for the second go-round. Morgan Watts is in 23rd place this go-round with a time of 8.1 in goat tying. This paired with her 10th place finish in the first go sets her up as a top contender in her event. For Connor Weese, he is currently in 41st place in the second go of steer wrestling but his 4.51 time in the first go is still second-best overall.

Advertisement – Story continues below…

Below you can find all the Wyoming Contestants in the top 10 for their events as well as the top 10 for all events below that.

Wyoming Contestants in the Top 10 for the Second Go-Round

Abagail Olson, Sheridan, Wyo., Barrel Racing, 5th, 17.233

Tuker Carricato, Saratoga, Wyo., Bareback Riding, 1st, 82

Caitlin Moore, Wright, Wyo., Pole Bending, 3rd, 20.174

Brody Wheeler, Aladdin, Wyo., Steer Wrestling, 5th, 5.12

Trysten Scheer, Lusk, Wyo., Steer Wrestling, 6th, 5.15

Raine Scheer, Lance Creek, Wyo. and Cache Holbrook, Burns, Colo., Team Roping, 1st, 5.4

Evan Kallas, Casper, Wyo. and Kashlynne Drake, Casper, Wyo., Team Roping, 3rd, 5.79

Tucker Johnson, Cheyenne, Wyo. and Hailey Ellis, Cheyenne, Wyo., Team Roping, 6th, 6.48

JT Morris, Rozet, Wyo. and Cagney Stewart, Bowman, N.D., Team Roping, 10th, Score: 6.78

Dalton Massey, Gillette, Wyo., Tie Down Roping, 4th, 9.74

Adeline Norstegaard, Gillette, Wyo., Girls Cutting, 4th, 146.5

Barrel Racing

(UT) Morgan Beckstrom, Spanish Fork, Utah, 16.943
(NV) Brynn Barto, Winnemucca, Nev., 16.975
(UT) Josey Madsen, Honeyville, Utah, 17.12
(TX) Devin Young, Rosanky, Texas, 17.157
(WY) Abagail Olson, Sheridan, Wyo., 17.233
(LA) Rylee Jo Maryman, St. Francisville, La., 17.271
(MN) Kayla Peters, Adrian, Minn., 17.285
(NE) Hailey Witte, Crookston, Neb., 17.294
(NE) Tyley Sears, Valentine, Neb., 17.297
(AU) Brandy Durbidge, Cushnie, Queensland, Aus., 17.353

Bareback Riding

(WY) Tuker Carricato, Saratoga, Wyo., 82
(TX) Kash Loyd, Cleburne, Texas, 80.5
(OR) Brody Dent, Bend, Ore., 74
(MT) Azzy Lara, Columbia Falls, Mont., 74
(AZ) Braylon Johnson, Prescott, Ariz., 73
(CA) Cody Hill, Jr., Dobbins, Calif., 70
(OR) Jenner Cole, Molalla, Ore., 67
(CO) Tucker Jacobson, Pagosa Springs, Colo., 67
(TN) Owen Prince, Humboldt, Tenn., 67
(AB) Clay Greenslade, Rocky View County, Alberta, Can., 67

Boys Cutting

(AR) Cooper Yarbro, Oxly, Mo., 148
(CO) Parker Ralston, Collbran, Colo., 146
(TX) Payden Rust, Gordon, Texas, 145
(IA) Cort Jones, Allerton, Iowa, 144
(AB) Joel Evans, High River, Alberta, Can., 144
(NM) Tate White, Edgewood, N.M., 143
(NM) Chris Carson, Roswell, N.M., 143
(OR) Ty Duarte, Beatty, Ore., 142
(UT) Wyatt Christensen, West Point, Utah, 142
(ID) Jett Brower, St. Anthony, Idaho, 141
(AZ) River Parsons, Marana, Ariz., 141

Breakaway Roping

(WI) Raelynn Johnson, Brodhead, Wis., 2.18
(UT) Sage Webster, Kamas, Utah, 2.27
(KS) Baylee Barker, Atlanta, Kan., 2.28
(MN) Ella Olson, New Richmond, Wis., 2.58
(SD) Kelsi Costello, Newell, S.D., 2.68
(IN) Savannah Russell, Heltonville, Ind., 2.7
(TN) Avery Wilburn, Red Banks, Miss., 2.94
(LA) Aubrey Habbit, Youngsville, La., 2.99
(OR) Addison Klementis, Molalla, Ore., 3.12
(NE) Jaycee Lambert, Harrison, Neb., 3.14

Bull Riding

(UT) Dalton Allred, Cleveland, Utah, 78.5
(MO) Wyatt Black, Carthage, Mo., 78
(MI) Trace Scarlavai, White Cloud, Mich., 78
(NC) Elijah Jennings, Cleveland, S.C., 76.5
(AB) Hayden Mulvey, Brooks, Alberta, Can., 75
(TX) Jack Mitchell, Weatherford, Texas, 69
(KS) Jace Hensley, Paola, Kan., 68
(TX) John Crimber, Sunset, Texas, 63
(LA) Trey Carroll, DeRidder, La., 62.5
(ID) Brody Westergard, Arco, Idaho, 61

Girls Cutting

(TX) Mattie Coberly, Hereford, Texas, 150
(TN) Lily Erwin, Lady Lake, Fla., 150
(TX) Haylee King, Cisco, Texas, 148
(WY) Adeline Norstegaard, Gillette, Wyo., 146.5
(AU) Imogen Randell, Lurg, , 146
(CA) Betty Branquinho, Oakdale, Calif., 145
(TX) Preslie Green, Perrin, Texas, 145
(UT) Baylee Denton, Sterling, Utah, 145
(MO) Anna Martin, Steelville, Mo., 145
(ID) Torrey Glaser, Elko, Nev., 144.5

Goat Tying

(NM) Wacey Trujillo, Los Alamos, N.M., 6.89
(ID) Hailey Gibbs, Riverside, Utah, 7.13
(TX) Sadie Patterson, Hockley, Texas, 7.25
(WA) Kylie Stewart, Royal City, Wash., 7.29
(AZ) Bailey Girvin, Flagstaff, Ariz., 7.43
(CO) Brooke Bruner, Parker, Colo., 7.51
(CA) Kendra Deskovick, Ramona, Calif., 7.64
(MT) Sally Robb, Bozeman, Mont., 7.65
(IA) Augusta Warren, Ottumwa, Iowa, 7.69
(UT) Ellie Thompson, Kamas, Utah, 7.69

Pole Bending

(AB) Kasha Borsy, High River, Alberta, Can., 19.909
(KS) Madison Scott, Quenemo, Kan., 20.169
(WY) Caitlin Moore, Wright, Wyo., 20.174
(IN) Rhylan Morgan, Muncie, Ind., 20.208
(OK) Kaden Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 20.371
(WI) Raelynn Johnson, Brodhead, Wis., 20.372
(ND) Kinley Follman, Towner, N.D., 20.446
(AZ) Oodessa Barlow, Rock Point, Ariz., 20.475
(TX) Drew Ellen Stewart, Normangee, Texas, 20.491
(SD) Piper Cordes, Wall, S.D., 20.494

Reined Cow Horse

(CO) Landri Lisac, Pueblo, Colo., 297.5
(AB) Tyree Swales, Millarville, Alberta, Can., 295
(ID) Sloan McFarlane, Wilder, Idaho, 293
(TX) Klare Segura, Schulenburg, Texas, 292.5
(MT) Walker Story, Martinsdale, Mont., 292.5
(TX) Quincy Probst, Wallsburg, Utah, 292
(NV) Marinna Mori, Tuscarora, Nev., 292
(OR) Ty Duarte, Beatty, Ore., 291.5
(HI) Emily Coflin, Pukalani, Hawaii, 291
(AZ) Ruby Robbins, Brawley, Calif., 291

Saddle Bronc

(OR) Shane Scott, Molalla, Ore., 82
(TX) Cooper Lane, Keller, Texas, 77
(MI) Treg Huver, Nashville, Mich., 75.5
(MT) Caiden Gray, Miles City, Mont., 74
(NC) Connor Brumley, Mocksville, N.C., 73
(CO) Colt Lewis, Pagosa Springs, Colo., 72
(WA) KDyn Cooper, Prosser, Wash., 71
(NC) Colt Bass, Statesville, N.C., 71
(SD) Toarin Humble, Belle Fourche, S.D., 70
(IA) Jett Williams, Clarinda, Iowa, 69.5

Steer Wrestling

(WA) Reece Kane, Wilson Creek, Wash., 4.89
(WI) Walker Goffard, Berlin, Wis., 4.89
(UT) Tad Williams, Wanship, Utah, 4.92
(NV) Hagen Buckmaster, Battle Mountain, Nev., 5.04
(WY) Brody Wheeler, Aladdin, Wyo., 5.12
(WY) Trysten Scheer, Lusk, Wyo., 5.15
(NE) Brandt Priest, Cody, Neb., 5.29
(MT) Kash Woodward, Miles City, Mont., 5.34
(ID) Wally Jacobson, Clifton, Idaho, 5.52
(TX) Krew Metcalf, Whitehouse, Texas, 5.55

Team Roping

(WY) Raine Scheer, Lance Creek, Wyo. and Cache Holbrook, Burns, Colo., 5.4
(TX) Brylee Sanderson, Bandera, Texas and Levi Robinson, Texas City, Texas, 5.44
(WY) Evan Kallas, Casper, Wyo. and Kashlynne Drake, Casper, Wyo., 5.79
(OK) Judd Goodson, Idabel, Okla. and Rylie Powell, Mcalester, Okla., 6.12
(NM) Quint Walters, Las Cruces, N.M. and Wesley Hayes, Cliff, N.M., 6.33
(WY) Tucker Johnson, Cheyenne, Wyo. and Hailey Ellis, Cheyenne, Wyo., 6.48
(OK) Kreed King, Oklahoma City, Okla. and Austin Rogers, Hennessey, Okla., 6.51
(UT) Sage Webster, Kamas, Utah and Harley Ward, Payson, Utah, 6.53
(KS) Ryan Armstrong, Rogersville, Mo. and Myka Dickinson, Rogersville, Mo., 6.62
(WY) JT Morris, Rozet, Wyo. and Cagney Stewart, Bowman, N.D., 6.78

Tie Down Roping

(AZ) Cutter Steffan, Holbrook, Ariz., 9.27
(KS) Braden Farr, Cherryvale, Kan., 9.37
(WY) Cole Maxwell, Weippe, Idaho, 9.5
(WY) Dalton Massey, Gillette, Wyo., 9.74
(OK) Avery Garrett, Perryton, Texas, 10.09
(KS) Hunter Rush, Dayton, Wash., 10.36
(SD) Trey Merry, Piedmont, S.D., 10.39
(KS) Trent Workman, Platteville, Colo., 10.4
(ID) Carson Holt, Minatare, Neb., 10.46
(WY) Koy Dellinger, Livermore, Calif., 10.59

Source link

Click to comment

Wyoming

‘It’s going to kill us.’ Electric utility’s latest rate hike request especially steep for Wyoming ag irrigators

Published

6 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Press Room

‘It’s going to kill us.’ Electric utility’s latest rate hike request especially steep for Wyoming ag irrigators

by Dustin Bleizeffer, WyoFile

The need to flip on electric pumps to irrigate alfalfa fields came early this season for Cokeville-area farmers and ranchers Tim Teichert and Jason Thornock, thanks to extraordinarily dry conditions.

Pumping water from streams and underground aquifers takes a lot of electricity, and ag folks like Teichert and Thornock wince when they have to flick their switches to the on position: Thus begins the ticking of the utility meter. What’s usually a $150,000 irrigation-season electric bill for Thornock and $90,000 for Teichert will be higher — possibly tens of thousands of dollars, they say.

But the drought-induced extra expense might pale in comparison to what their electric provider has in store for them — come drought or not.

Rocky Mountain Power, Wyoming’s largest regulated electric utility, filed a request to the Wyoming Public Service Commission in May for a $71 million rate hike, which averages to an 8.8% increase among its 150,000 customers in the state, according to the company.

For irrigators like Teichert and Jason Thornock, it’s a 37.7% increase — if state regulators give Rocky Mountain Power what it’s asking for.

“It’s going to kill us,” Thornock told WyoFile. “They’re going to make it very difficult to be a farmer in Rocky Mountain Power’s service area.”

Class system

Utilities commonly charge different rates to different customer classifications. Typically, customers with especially large electrical pulls on the system — think oil refineries and trona-and-soda ash operations, for example — pay higher rates because they demand more from the utility’s systemwide infrastructure and ongoing investments. Same goes for “Irrigation, Schedule 40,” where Teichert and Thornock — as well as about 1,000 other Wyoming irrigators — find themselves on the utility’s ledger.

This chart depicts how Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed rate increase would be applied to different customer classifications. (Wyoming Public Service Commission) Credit: Wyoming Public Service Commission

Wyoming farmers and ranchers, who have the opportunity and means, have been shifting from flood irrigation — which requires no or minimal electricity — to pump-and-pivot irrigation in recent years to make more efficient use of limited water resources, Wyoming Stock Growers Association Executive Vice President Jim Magagna said.

“I don’t see how anybody can afford to do it when they suddenly face increases like this,” Magagna told WyoFile. “Particularly at a time of drought and when they’re already facing high costs, at a time when fertilizer costs have increased dramatically due to the Iranian situation.”

Rocky Mountain Power has been under scrutiny for a series of rate hikes in recent years. Excluding annual fuel cost adjustments, Wyoming regulators have allowed the company to increase its base rates nearly 16% since 2024. A 5.5% hike hit monthly bills in 2024, and rates increased another 10.2% in 2025.

Cost of service

So what’s driving this year’s proposed $71 million rate hike?

First, the company — a division of Warren Buffett’s PacifiCorp — wants to ensure a 7.56% rate of return, it said.

In public documents, Rocky Mountain Power also cites some $4.5 billion in new capital projects across six states, higher operations and maintenance costs, inflationary pressures and a projected $10 million to create a “Wyoming wildfire liability self-insurance reserve fund.”

For the average residential customer, the proposed hike pencils out to a monthly base rate increase from $23 to $25, according to the company. Base rate is a service charge, meaning customers will see an increase regardless of how much power they use.

Customer classification rate increases for various “large” electrical-demand users, excluding irrigated agriculture, range from 7.4% to 10.9%, according to public documents.

“The recommended cost of service study incorporated in this case fairly allocates costs among the service schedules in a manner that reflects the demands and energy usage of the customer classes,” Rocky Mountain Power states in documents provided to the state. Irrigation customers account for about 0.4% of total energy usage on Rocky Mountain Power’s system in Wyoming.

When pressed for details about what’s driving the proposed 37.7% rate increase for ag irrigation, Rocky Mountain Power pointed to a 638-page document filed with the Public Service Commission.

“It’s going to kill us. They’re going to make it very difficult to be a farmer in Rocky Mountain Power’s service area.”
Jason Thornock, ag irrigator

“The company proposes a rate design that makes movement towards [cost of service] while balancing impacts to individual customers,” according to one passage regarding the Section 40 classification.

“Rates for the various customer classes should cover the cost of providing service,” Rocky Mountain Power spokesperson David Eskelsen told WyoFile via email. “Different kinds of customers present different costs, such as the magnitude and characteristics of their demand on the electric system, voltage requirements and line extension costs.

“As the company has measured usage during peak periods by irrigation customers, their use of the system increased 30% compared to the 2024 general rate review, which contributes to the need for the above-average increase in rates,” Eskelsen added. “Combined with the smaller increases for this class in the past two general rate reviews, the increase proposed is necessary to move them closer to actual cost of service.”

Beyond a customer’s demand on a utility’s system, other factors define distinct customer classifications. Among them are voltage requirements. While the average home requires 120 and 240 volts, large irrigation pumps can require 480 volts.

If costs to reliably serve high-voltage power to irrigation customers are rising, it hasn’t been fully explained to them, Thornock and Teichert say. Plus, the service they’re paying for hasn’t been reliable.

Rocky Mountain Power transmission lines run across both Tim Teichert’s and Jason Thornock’s Cokeville properties. (Jake Bolster/Inside Climate News)

“Rocky Mountain Power sends us dirty power,” Teichert said, describing power currents that send fluctuating, rather than stable, currents of voltage. He added that their irrigation pumps and motors require a consistent 480 volts. But, “it fluctuates all day long.”

The variation of voltage is problematic, Thornock said, because it can cause pumps to malfunction. “I had to replace a pump-motor yesterday — probably a $10,000 motor — because of dirty power.”

Equally perplexing, Thornock and Teichert said, is this the first time in recent history that Rocky Mountain Power has singled out agricultural irrigation for a major rate hike. In 2023, the state allowed a 1.5% increase, and in 2024 it ordered a 2.9% reduction.

No relief

Two years ago, Teichert and Thornock rang alarm bells about the threat of rising electrical costs to the agriculture industry. They concluded that a personal investment in solar arrays might help — if only the Legislature would raise the cap on net metering from 25 kilowatts of self-generation to 200 kilowatts.

” data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_39006868-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C518&ssl=1″ alt=”” class=”wp-image-126934″/>

Tim Teichert installed around 250 kilowatts of solar using REAP funding, hoping Wyoming would change its net-metering laws. (Jake Bolster/Inside Climate News)

Net metering is a credit system. If a utility customer generates their own electricity, and occasionally more than they need, the extra power goes back onto the grid for use by other customers. The customer feeding electricity back to the utility earns credits at the retail rate for the power on a month-to-month basis. If there are remaining credits at the end of the year, the utility pays out those credits at a lesser, wholesale rate.

But Wyoming law caps the net-metering credit system at 25 kilowatts.

“We can’t provide enough power on demand for those three months when we’re using it,” Thornock said, “but we can bank enough power for the nine months that we’re not using it to offset our power demand.

“We’re not asking for a handout,” Thornock added, “but apparently we can produce power for less than Rocky Mountain Power can. Unfortunately, we have to use their grid to bank the power.”

Although the irrigators earned allies in their net-metering cap increase quest, House Bill 183, “Net metering amendments” in 2025 got so watered down in the legislative process that it died for lack of support, according to proponents.

Without any avenues for relief, Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed increase on ag irrigation is a threat to Wyoming’s agricultural industry, said Magagna of the Stock Growers Association.

“I just don’t think it’s defensible in any way,” he said. “Even if they, perhaps, undercharged in the past, you gradually make up for that. You don’t try to do it in one fell swoop. I think it’s just an embarrassment regarding their understanding of and respect for the ag industry.”

Green River Republican Rep. Scott Heiner, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee, said he pressed Rocky Mountain Power representatives during a recent hearing about the steep rate hike proposal for irrigators. They were not “aware of this part of the proposal,” Heiner told WyoFile, adding, “I will do all I can to be a voice for agriculture as we oppose this rate increase.

“It appears that [Rocky Mountain Power] may be trying to ‘cost shift’ with this rate increase to put more of the burden on those that don’t have the voice to be heard,” Heiner continued. “With the Wyoming drought and shortage of water, this may drive our ranchers and farmers out of business.”

The Wyoming Public Service Commission is accepting public comment through June 18 for the initial review phase of the rate case. Written comments should mention Docket No. 20000-710-ER-26, and can be emailed to at wpsc_comments@wyo.gov.

This article was originally published by WyoFile and is republished here with permission. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.

Source link

Wyoming

Casper City Council approves projects at Ford Wyoming Center, Fort Caspar campgrounds

Published

16 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Press Room

Casper City Council approves projects at Ford Wyoming Center, Fort Caspar campgrounds

CASPER, Wyo. — On Tuesday, the Casper City Council approved a trio of infrastructure projects aimed at upgrading the Fort Caspar campground and maintaining the cooling and accessibility of the Ford Wyoming Center.

At the Fort Caspar campground, the council authorized a $110,250 agreement with local contractor Arc Electric LLC for electrical utility upgrades. The project includes the installation of new utility conductors, a transformer pad, a new electrical panel and the replacement of RV pedestals.

Councilors also authorized an $11,000 construction contingency, bringing the total project amount to $121,250. Funding for the upgrades will be drawn from Capital Fund Reserves previously allocated for repairs at the Izaak Walton Campground, with an expected completion date of Nov. 15.

In other business, the council addressed critical maintenance needs at the Ford Wyoming Center by approving a $38,870 contract with Long Building Technologies to repair the facility’s cooling tower.

Casper Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities Director Zulima Lopez said one of the tower’s two industrial gearboxes failed, leaving the HVAC system operating at approximately half of its capacity and increasing the risk of a complete cooling loss.

Work on the cooling tower is expected to be finished by July 31.

In a separate project at the Ford Wyoming Center, city leaders voted to accept a $75,000 grant from the Office of State Lands and Investments for pedestrian and lighting improvements.

The grant, which covers up to 30% of the project costs, will be used to enhance walkways and parking lot lighting, Lopez said. A primary focus of the work will be improving access from the Cowboy Lot, which supports parking for events like the College National Finals Rodeo and others at both the events center and the nearby WYO Sports Ranch.

The required local matching funds will be provided through fifth-cent tax allocations and in-kind work from city staff, according to a city memo.

Source link

Wyoming

Wyoming County Fires Prison Warden – ROCKET-COURIER

Published

1 day ago

June 16, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming County Fires Prison Warden – ROCKET-COURIER

Heather Schmidt

TUNKHANNOCK — The Wyoming County Prison Board today (June 16) voted to ratify the termination of Heather Schmidt as the warden of the Wyoming County Correctional Facility (WCCF).

Schmidt, a 1996 graduate of Wyalusing Valley High School, had served as the warden since January 2025.

Previous to that, she had served as the facility’s training lieutenant and its deputy warden.

No reason was given as to why Schmidt was terminated. She has been on administrative leave since May 1.

Members of the prison board noted that the issue was a “personnel matter.”

The county is currently advertising for a new warden at the WCCF.

Further reporting on this matter will appear in this week’s edition of the Rocket-Courier.

Source link