CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming will sell a 1-square-mile (2.6-square-kilometer) parcel of pristine land bordering Grand Teton National Park to the U.S. government for $100 million after Gov. Mark Gordon signed off on a deal Friday that ends the state’s longstanding threats to unload it to a developer.
Under the agreement the federal government will pay the appraised value of $62.5 million for the property, while privately raised funds will supply the rest.
Carpeted by a mix of trees, shrubs and sagebrush, the rolling land has a commanding view of the iconic Teton Range and is prime habitat for animals including elk, moose and grizzly bears.
Gordon, a Republican, announced in a statement that he was approving the deal to add the land to the national park after his office ensured that a U.S. Bureau of Land Management plan for managing a vast area of southwestern Wyoming doesn’t carry too many restrictions on development including oil and gas drilling — a stipulation made by the state Legislature last winter.
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Even so, Gordon criticized the BLM’s overall plan for the arid, minerals-rich area 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Grand Teton as “the Biden administration’s parting shot” at the state.
“I have been in contact with Wyoming’s congressional delegation and potential members of the incoming Trump Administration to fix the mess an ideological Biden administration is leaving for southwestern Wyoming,” Gordon said in the statement.
Interior Department officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
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Wyoming has owned the southeastern Jackson Hole property, bordered by Grand Teton on three sides and national forest on the fourth, since long before the national park’s establishment in 1929. It is the last and most valuable of four state-owned parcels sold to be annexed by the park in the past decade.
The federal government granted such lands to many states, particularly in the West, at statehood to help raise money for public education. Despite the location and astronomical value of the parcels, they brought in relatively little revenue for the state through grazing leases and other uses.
So over the years, governors have sought to goad federal officials into buying the lands by threatening to auction them off.
The Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners, made up of Gordon and the state’s other four top state elected officials, voted 3-2 in November to proceed with the sale after debating whether to negotiate a trade for federally owned mineral rights elsewhere in the state.
BAR NUNN, Wyo. — Casper native Keenan Morgan recently announced his intention to run for the House District 58 seat, which is currently occupied by Rep. Bill Allemand.
Morgan is a fourth-generation Wyomingite. He went to school in Bar Nunn and Casper and is an alum of Casper College and the University of Wyoming.
“My family has been in America since before its founding, arriving on my mom’s side as pilgrims and on my dad’s side as slaves. Over time, my family landed in Wyoming,” Morgan said in his campaign statement. “I am proud of my Wyoming history and desire to stay. But this desire is becoming less common in our state as people leave seeking opportunities elsewhere, never to return.”
Morgan said that 60% of Wyoming’s young people choose to leave the state, citing a story from WyoFile.
“Young people leave often for one simple reason: they do not see leaders building a vision of Wyoming that includes them,” Morgan said. “They do not see young leaders looking out for them. They are driven away by a lack of educational and job opportunities, a sense of hopelessness, a lack of progress, and an increasingly divisive political landscape.”
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Morgan said that, despite that, he chooses to stay in Wyoming because he believes what is possible for the state.
He also provided a list of tenets he said Wyomingites collectively hold.
We all share the same values and the same vision for our state:
We believe in freedom, opportunity, justice, and equality.
We all want success for our families and our community.
We understand that we must lift each other up instead of beat each other down.
We know that people need ready-access to the care and services they need.
We know that prices are too high and our government seems incapable of accountability.
We believe in fostering economic diversity and innovation in Wyoming.
We understand that in Wyoming, we have to protect public education, public lands, and access to opportunities for youth.
We believe in autonomy, protecting public institutions, ensuring integrity in government, and always putting Wyoming First and moving Wyoming Forward.
– Morgan’s campaign statement
Morgan called this series of beliefs the Wyoming vision and said that representation across the state is struggling to lead with this vision, which is something he’s trying to change.
“My name is Keenan Morgan and I’m running for House District 58 because I believe in empowering a new generation to put Wyoming First and move Wyoming Forward,” he said. “We need a Wyoming vision of progress, principles, and passion in politics.”
Morgan said he believes in listening to the community, fighting for people-centered solutions, accountability and looking out for those in the community who are struggling.
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“I recognize that issues are rarely simply black and white, and understanding nuance is required to make real change last,” he said. “That is why I believe in telling the truth as I understand it — always.”
Morgan said he’s committed to working on lasting solutions that move the state forward, rather than relying on buzzwords and empty promises. He said he believes in practical leadership, which is what real representation looks like.
“I am asking for your support in this race not because I think we will agree on 100% of the issues 100% of the time — that’s an unrealistic and dishonest expectation — but instead because I promise to always look out for your interests by putting Wyoming First and Wyoming Forward,” Morgan said. “Every time. Decisions are made by those who show up. Whether or not you decide to vote for me in this race, if elected, I will always do what is right for you.”
Bar Nunn Mayor Peter Boyer is also running for House District 58.
LARAMIE, Wyo. — A Colorado resident died April 2 in a two-vehicle crash near Laramie.
According to reports from Wyoming Highway Patrol, one driver was northbound on US 287, while another motorist was approaching from the south. Shortly before 7:50 pm., the northbound vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the other car in a glancing, head-on collision near milepost 415.
After the drivers collided, the southbound car left the road to the right, tripping and rolling before coming to rest in a ditch. The other vehicle left the road to the right and came to an uncontrolled rest.
Killed in the wreck was 36-year-old Colorado resident David Foote. One other person was injured, WHP reports.
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This story contains preliminary information as provided by the Wyoming Highway Patrol via the Wyoming Department of Transportation Fatal Crash Summary map. The agency advises that information may be subject to change.
Debra Moerke spent some time on Wyoming’s morning radio talk show, Wake Up Wyoming, with Glenn Woods, to talk about a new, safe haven for single mothers in the Cowboy State.
The McKenzie Home will provide a safe haven and essential resources, empowering single mothers to gain stability, achieve independence, and build a bright, self-sufficient future for their children.
The McKenzie Home is a supportive residential community dedicated to single mothers. They offer the tailored programs and skills development necessary to secure affordable housing, increase job readiness, and break the cycle of instability.
You can listen to the radio interview below.
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The mission of The McKenzie Home is to provide single mothers with a home and a program with access to resources, skills, and support needed to enable them to become successful parents and contributing members of their community.
Women who find themselves as a single parent often fall between the cracks in our society, with little support or help to become strong and independent. Many times, they will turn to unhealthy alternatives, putting themselves and their children in jeopardy. The McKenzie Home gives them a safe place to live, while providing that essential support toward a healthy, productive life.
Debra Moerke From McKenzie Home websiteDebra Moerke From McKenzie Home website
McKENZIE’S STORY. Born of a single mom and adopted into a loving family, McKenzie was a warm and fun-loving little girl. At the age of five, she lost her fight against childhood cancer. While visiting McKenzie’s memorial site in Green River, Wyoming, her grandmother, Debra Moerke, felt drawn to a nearby historical elementary school.
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After the building was gutted by a fire, Moerke was given a vision to bring the landmark back to life by restoring a community treasure and creating a transitional home for single moms in need of a new start.
McKenzie Home websiteMcKenzie Home website
MEET THE TEAM. The McKenzie Home enjoys the support and expertise of a Board of Directors, an Extension of the Board housed in Green River, and an Advisory Board. Meet them here.
