CHRONICLE
4 The Lovell Chronicle I January 22, 2015
' 'our newspaper" has been judged the best small weekly in
Wyoming for the second time in three years, and that makes us
very proud, because producing a community newspaper is truly a
team effort among our staff, our readers and those in the com-
munity who provide us with the information necessary to produce
a quality product.
It was exciting to receive the Wallace R. Biggs Trophy for gen-
eral excellence at Saturday night's Wyoming Press Association
awards banquet in Cheyenne, and it was meaningful that the
award was announced by former Chronicle publisher Pat Schmidt,
a great friend.
Producing a community newspaper takes long hours (these
words are being written at 2 a.m.) and lots of evenings away from
friends and family, so it is rewarding when that hard work is recog-
nized by our peers, this time newspaper folks in Utah.
We take pride in our product, as many other businesses do,
and we share this award with our community whose lives we
"chronicle" 52 weeks a year. Indeed, one of the best things about
receiving this honor has been the reaction of our readers over the
last several days. Folks are thrilled that ' heir paper" has been
honored. It's a point of pride for our readers.
This is your newspaper. We do the interviews, put down the
words, take the photos and design the ads and pages, but we
couldn't do it without the cooperation of our loyal readers, our ad-
vertisers and our contacts in the schools, local government and
various organizations who work with us to provide the news.
One thing that has always been a source of pride for me is the
devotion our staff has to the product. Our crew takes ownership
of this paper and I am amazed every week at the pride they have
in the newspaper.
It was an emotional evening in Cheyenne for our staff mem-
bers in attendance, and we are proud to host the traveling trophy
as best small weekly in Wyoming for another year.
Thank you to our readers for their engagement with our pub-
lication, to our advertisers who provide the financial support for
what we do, to our many, many contacts who work with us to pro-
vide information, to our crew for their absolute dedication to the
quality of our product, to our fellow newspapers in Basin, Grey-
bull and Powell who work with us and to our spouses and families
who spend many a night alone while we cover games, meetings,
concerts and many other events.
This honor is yours.
--David Peck
Letter to the editor
To change hiring policy would be hypocrisy
Dear Editor, outcry was for the past 26 years,
I would like to address all you Bruce Morrison used the very
haters out there that don't like same policies in making the ap-
our new mayor's decision, but I pointments of the council. Now
don't have the pleasure as our ed- that people don't like that the
itor does to write as many pages mayor uses the very same proce-
as I see fit. dure, the haters want to change
I know that the mayor is not it. Can yau say hypocrisy?
going to make everyone hap- There were a few that voiced
py and I understand that is part their complaint, as to how it was
of politics. And if I read the ed- done, but I would like to remind
itorial right, the mayor is going them that Wyoming is a right
to have to work with a council to work state. Most companies
that is there, but not as willing around this area don't give their
participants, employees time to get their house
First, for all of you that don't in order before they are fired or
live here and feel that you still let go. We would all like that lux-
have an opinion that counts, well ury. But now that things are be-
it doesn't. Why don't you live here ing changed and they don't like it,
in Lovell and make your voice now they want to made changes
heard in the ballot box? I did not on how it's done.
see your name running for any It was stated in the edito-
available offices? So whenever rial that the councilmen had an
you want to make it count, feel overwhelming support of Lew-
free to move back. is. I guess it depends on who you
Everyone has an opinion andtalk to. I, like the rest of the peo-
here is mine. I have heard a lot of ple that support the mayor, come
people sugar coating on how great out to voice our support, but do it
Lewis is. You would have thought worrying that there will be reper-
that he could walk on water. But cussion. From the very ones that
there are those that know him are here to protect us.
from growing up in this area and The mayor is going to have a
know the other side of him, too. rough road ahead of him and it
None of us are perfect, that in- seems like he is going to have to
cludes me, we have all made mis- drag his council along with him.
takes in our lives. I would like to close by quoting
This man does not deserve to the man that got beat within one
be put up on a pedestal. He al- inch of his life by our finest Rod-
ready lives in an ivory tower. And ney King by saying, "Can we all
by having an editor that puts fuel just get along?"
to the fire is no help. Vicente Garcia
I want to know where the Lovell
II= YOU WANT
THIS LOAN COME
INAPRIL!
NUTHIN'
LIKE A LITTLE
INC NTIV6!
How many of you have made a New
Year's resolution either this year or in the
past few years?
Ok, now, how many have made a res-
olution for your business or professional
life? Let's face it, we all strive to improve
ourselves personally, but we are often less
driven on a professional level and tend to
go with what's comfortable, right?
Why is that? When you started your
new job, opened your business or took over
the leadership of an existing business, you
no doubt had a fire in your belly to make a
difference and to forge a path for others to
follow. Can you still say this today? If so,
great! But if not, what happened?
It's easy to get caught up in the dai-
ly operating of a business or in the daily grind of a
job, and we don't always look toward the future and
some of those :original ideas you had to make a dif-
ference have fallen off the proverbial "full plate" we
each have. A few years ago one of our board mem-
bers put it in these words - "Each day when I go to
work I choose whether to work in my business or
on my business". What a difference that one letter
makes. Ask yourself how many days in a row you
work in your business and how many days a month
you work on your business. Now ask yourself how
much can change if you commit a portion of each
week to work on your business. The possibilities
are staggering and the results will be felt not only
in your attitude and employee morale, but likely in
your profitability.
Sue Taylor
Consider the
possibilities
Where do you start? Anywhere really.
Nobody knows your business or your job
better than you. It doesn't have to be dif-
ficult or cost a lot of money to make a dif-
ference. Here are a few ideas to get you
started. How do your employees dress and
answer the phone? Can you improve cus-
tomer service, or do you need to create a
written policy handbook for employees?
How's your website? How do you handle
customer complaints? Do you have a re-
alistic marketing plan? Are you consider-
ing expansion? For those of you with store-
fronts, step across the street and take a
critical look at your building from a cus-
tomer's standpoint. Does your building re-
flect the image you want?
It's a given that the toughest part about resolu-
tions is sticking to them for the long run, but a resolu-
tion doesn't need to be for the whole year, it just needs
your commitment and action to make it happen. Why
not take a few minutes right now to think about work-
ing on your business and then write down two things
you can make happen in your professional life in the
next six weeks. Circle that future date on your calen-
dar and let us know how you do.
If you need help with any of these or other busi-
ness issues, we have tools and resources that can
help, so please call to find out how we can help. Grow
Big Horn County serves the needs of businesses
throughout Big Horn County and we can be reached
at 548-6707 or growbighorncounty@tctwest.net. All
services are free and confidential.
Letter to the editor
Dear Editor,
During this month the Leg-
islature will begin delibera-
tions on the question of allow-
ing more low income individuals
and families to enroll in Med-
icaid (Medicaid expansion"). To
qualify for MedicAID one must
pass a "means test" which in-
volves presenting proof of low
income in the form of pay stubs
and other documentation. Any
social benefit program that does
NOT require the consideration
of income, as part of the ap-
plication process, is sometimes
called a "universal" benefit pro-
gram. MediCARE, Social Secu-
rity retirement checks, and cer-
tain VA benefits are examples
of "universal" benefit programs.
Since the end of the 19th cen-
tury poverty in America has car-
ried a major stigma. According-
ly, a successful application to a
"means tested" social program,
such as MedicAID, often includes
a figurative slap in the face. The
"slap" being the scorn of many in
society who liken the poor to those
with a serious communicable dis- camp fear public transportation
ease and, for this reason, feel the might push the state's popula-
poor should remain isolated away ti0n beyond 600,000. Child care is
from the main community, another topic the legislature has
The state legislature bears avoided. A single parent cannot,
significant responsibility for the lawfully, leave very young chil-
exacerbation of poverty. The Leg- dren alone at home even if the
islature, through its inaction, has reason is the need for the parent
impeded the ability of those with to work.
limited financial means to find In the face of the aforemen-
transportation (to work, medi- tioned obstacles the poor face
cal appointments, etc.). The con- with respect to transportation to
tinued existence of the highly work, and child care, a "work re-
regressive motor vehicle registra- quirement" has been added to the
tion fees and related sales tax has Medicaid expansion bill. Depend-
resulted in a scene where rural ingupon howthis provision is en-
Wyoming sometimes looks like forced I expect many, who are oth-
the streets of Havana, Cuba, only erwise eligible, will be dropped
instead of vintage cars you see from "expanded Medicaid" and, in
vintage pick-up trucks (40+ years the end, "expanded Medicaid" will
old). serve only a very small number.
There are 20+ counties in the Representative Harvey is to
state and too many of them rely, be commended for her tireless
for their existence, entirely on work on the issue of Medicaid ex-
motor vehicle registration fees pansion. I hope her efforts will re-
and the related sales tax. The leg- sult in Medicaid expansion that
islature also continues to resist will serve all low-income Wyo-
efforts at funding public transpor- ming residents.
tation. I assume those legislators Jack Cordner
in the anti-public transportation Frannie
USPS 321-060
234 E. Main, Lovell, Wyoming 82431
307.548-2217. FAX 307.548-2218
Email: lcnews@tctwest.net
David Peck, Editor and Publisher
LOVELL
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Editor ................................................................................. David Peck
Reporter ........................................................................ Patti Carpenter
Production Manager ........................................................... Pat Panner
Staff ...., ....................................... ,....Dorothy Nelson, Marwyn tayne
Teressa Ennis, John tafko, mna Baird, Leonora Barton
MEMBER:
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Published weekly on Thursday at Lovell, Wyoming
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