Here is a follow-up to some previous columns concerning
interesting happenings around the state:
REUNIONS ARE
BIG. Today all across Wyoming energetic local leaders are planning one of the
year’s biggest events in their town – the annual class reunion for the schools.
As time
passes, some of the more progressive towns are holding all-class reunions where
a multitude of classes can get together.
Debbie
Hammons, formerly of Worland, feels this is a wonderful opportunity for local
chambers of commerce and economic development groups to sell and re-sell their
towns to former residents. She says:
“Every Chamber of Commerce and Economic
Development office in Wyoming should see our aging American population as an
economic opportunity.
“Hosting a fantastic Class Reunion
shows former residents what they are missing with small town living — many
towns in other states have figured this out. Former residents who return to
class reunions are seeking good memories, and they just might be interested in
relocating to easier, cheaper, more meaningful and more fun living. Live your
golden years in Wyoming and spend your gold here!
“Towns like Evanston, Worland,
Powell, Sheridan, Lander, Riverton, Rawlins and other similar places are the
perfect towns to do it — walkable old parts of town, charming shops already
there, close to easy hiking and fishing, good restaurants and a good proximity
to an airport. Plus these towns have an interesting mix of people and
activities!”
WHAT A SKY!
What a year for sky-watchers in Wyoming!
Last August we were the best place in America to watch the Solar
Eclipse. And five months later on Jan.
31, we had the best seat in the house to watch a Lunar Eclipse, which featured
a Super Moon, a Blue Moon and a Blood Moon. Whew!
The Super Moon
refers to when the moon is closest to the earth and is 16 percent brighter than
normal. The Blue Moon means the second full
moon during a month. A Blood Moon refers
to how the moon turns red during the period of totality.
The crisp
winter weather was perfect in the Lander area with winds calm just eight hours
after massive winds of 86 mph blew through town.
And then there
was the launch of the huge Falcon Heavy SpaceX rocket Feb. 6. The rocket’s secondary burn in orbit was
visible from locations in Wyoming’s clear winter sky.
Literally the
best example of cross promotion in history occurred when SpaceX owner Elon Musk
launched one of his Tesla sports cars into orbit on top of the giant rocket.
BREADBOARD MILESTONE. Back in
December, folks in Buffalo were celebrating that Greg Born opened his sandwich
shop 35-years ago. Local columnist Sagebrush Sven (who gets help from Jim Hicks
every so often) wrote:
“He was bragging about that last
week and said that if laid all the sandwiches he has served in those 35 years
‘end-to-end’ they would reach all the way to Cheyenne from Buffalo.
“One of his customers asked if that
was in ‘road miles or as the crow flies.’ Greg had no more explained it was
road miles than another customer said: ‘And he did all that with only one
roll of bologna.’
“Got to hand it to Greg, he can
handle a little teasing as well as he can dish it out. Fact of the matter is we
do like the creations at the Bread Board, and the entertainment that goes with
each order if he’s behind the counter.”
The Born family has four Bread Board
locations around the state, also in Lander, Cody and Riverton.
One of the original ones is in
Lander where Bob Born is the boss. For years, we have purchased his 12-foot
versions for parties and family gatherings.
LESLIE BLYTHE. Back on Jan. 5, we reported on the death from
the flu from our great friend, who was just 58.
My brother Tom in Columbia, SC told
me that he saw her mentioned on NBC TV nightly news on Feb. 5. Seems that one of Leslie’s great friends was
Karen Sullivan, who writes a health column in the Butte, MT newspaper. She
mentioned the loss of Leslie in her column, which was picked up by the NBC
national network news.
Leslie was always just about the
best person on the planet at generating publicity and I found it both typical
and ironic that she even was garnering such press time even after her death.
It is still stunning to think that
she is gone. Godspeed.
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