March 5, 2015 I The Lovell Chronicle 13
BY BOB RODRIGUEZ
Michael Beyer, the new may-
or of Deaver, is a hard-working
farmer who wants to cultivate
a greater interest in the munic-
ipal government among town
folks while aiming for various im-
provements and attractions for all
plus instilling a greater sense of
community.
With a number of short- and
long-term goals in mind, he of-
ten arises at 4 a.m. so as to have
enough time for his farm la-
bors and his duties as the high-
est-ranking officer in the town
government. But, he notes, he
has a standing promise to his wife
that he will always be home at 5
p.m. for dinner with her and their
three daughters. His wife is the
former Anna Higgins, who is from
the Deaver area. Her father, Mike
Higgins, teaches at Rocky Moun-
tain Middle School in Cowley.
Beyer, who was sworn into of-
fice on Jan. 6 after being elected to
a four-year term as mayor in No-
vember, replaces Fred Yates, who
served four years and chose to not
seek a second term. The new may-
or previously was appointed to the
council to fill a vacancy and then
ran in 2012 for a four-year coun-
cil seat. The remaining portion of
his council term will be filled by
Kayla James, who was appointed
by the council on Feb. 3. Regard-
ing his run last year, Beyer ex-
plained: "I enjoy being involved in
the town and anything that I'm a
part of. I didn't necessarily really
want the job as mayor, but hav-
ing served on the council has giv-
en me some understanding of the
town's needs as well as its prob-
lems, so I felt that I would be a
good person to take care of the
problems at hand."
He notes that the main diffi-
culty, "like all small towns, is the
lack of money. All small towns,"
he continued, "depend heavily on
the state for funding. We have
old infrastructure and the costs
of construction and maintenance
keep going up. With our popula-
tion" the income isn't that great.
He said that although the high-
way sign reads "178" for popula-
tion, "there actually are around
100" who are taxpayers. What
happens, he said, is that what
BOB RODRIGUEZ
New mayor Michael Beyer and town clerk Allison Weber are hitting their stride as top officials
for the Town of Deaver.
funding exists goes for needs rath-
er than wants.
He stated that with farming
160 irrigated acres for hay, plus
having 40 cows and farming an-
other approximately 100 acres for
his wife's grandfather, he has "a
skill set" for handling the aspects
of his endeavors including plan-
ning, finances and meeting chal-
lenges. As part of his education
related to farming he attended
the Nebraska Technical College
of Agriculture in Curtis, Neb.,
and Chadron State College, also
in Nebraska.
"I find farming quite enjoy-
able and I like to work using pa-
tience and dedication," he said.
Originally from Sidney, Neb., he
grew up on his family's 40,000-
acre farm, which also includes a
feeder tot with 2,000 head and
1,000 cow/calf pairs.
"I was taught well growing
up," he recalls, "that if farming is
your job, enjoy it, but create your
own schedule" so it won't ruin
family life. "It's important to me
that I love farming and my work
for the town," he said.
More public involvement in
town government is one of his
short-term goals. The council and
mayor meet on first Tuesdays at 7
p.m. in the town hall and he wants
to receive input from citizens. He
also is looking toward updating
some of the town ordinances and
is interested in perhaps enlarging
the activities of Deaver's "great
Recreation Committee." He envi-
sions "town events where people
of varying generations can talk
with one another and find com-
mon ground." Beyer is certain
that Deaverites "care for each oth-
er and care about the town," and
wants to be sure that the best en-
vironment exists to nurture those
qualities.
"With a lot of houses being
purchased we are seeing some
new residents, people younger
than 40," he observed, "so we need
to do what we can to keep rents
low and have ordinances" aimed
at keeping neighborhoods looking
nice. And as the town provides
water-and-sewer and electric ser-
vice, as well as irrigation water
during summers, he has in mind
keeping utilities up and running
well and is highly complimentary
of Todd Phillips, the town's public
works supervisor, for his efforts.
As for possible economic de-
velopment, Beyer said that RDX
Technologies Corp., formerly Rid-
geline Canada Inc., continues
to rent the former Deaver Mid-
dle School from the town. RDX
is a water treatment and energy
technology firm that could build
a facility in Deaver or use por-
tions of the school for manufac-
turing and increase employment
opportunities.
The mayor's long-term goals
include "having Deaver be afford-
able and an attractive place to
live with an active community."
He recalls from the small town
of Curtis, Neb., during part of his
education, that people visited one
another in the evenings, perhaps
walking about as others sat on
their porches. "Small towns can
be like that," he said, "and Deaver
has some of it, but I'd like to see
more. It's the idea of caring for
the town and watching out for one
another."
WEBER NEW CLERK/TREASURER
Besides having a new mayor,
the town also has Allison Weber
as its new clerk/treasurer, replac-
ing Vana Camp, who served for 23
years.
"She has a wealth of knowl-
edge," said Weber, "and is a true
supporter and believer in the
town itself. I aspire to fill the
shoes she left upon retirement."
Beyer is highly complimentary of
Weber's work.
Weber is a native' of Tus-
tin, Mich., which she describes
as "a village with a population of
around 250 people, so it's slight-
ly larger than Deaver. Most of
my schooling was in Saint Clair
Shores, just north of Detroit. I
moved to Wyoming in May 2011
and fell in love with everything
about it."
Weber was apointed to the
Deaver position by the council
on Jan. 6 this year and had pur-
chased a home in the town in Oc-
tober last year.
"The beautiful surround-
ing views and the affordable cost
of living were my main draws to
this area," she said. "The fact that
I now live and work in Deaver is
beyond a stroke of good fortune.
I walk a block to work and home
each day and I spend my lunch-
time with my beloved pups. As
a new home owner I am learn-
ing to enjoy gardening and home
improvements.
"This town has endured,"
she said, "because its population
cares deeply for it. I am happy
to be part of that as an employ-
ee and a resident. My hobbies are
hiking with my dogs, rock hound-
ing and water activities, weather
permitting."
Prior to her clerk/treasur-
er job she was "in the reception-
ist/financial field for the past 12
years." She added, "I immensely
enjoy work with the public."
Saturday, March 7: Open House for Lomand Fowl-
er's 80th Birthday, Senior Center, 2-4 p.m.
Thursday, March 12: Byron Drainage District meet-
ing, Byron Solid Waste Disposal District office,
8:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 12: Big Horn Little League Base-
ball tryouts, Lovell Middle School Gym, 4-5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18: Big Horn Little League
Baseball tryouts, Cowley Log Gym, 4-5 p.m.
Thursday, March 19: NBHH Lumps & Bumps Day,
schedule an appointment by calling 307-548-5201.
BHC School District No. 1 Board, 2nd
Tuesday, board room, 7 p.m.
BHC School District No. 2 Board
(L0vell), 2nd Monday, board room,
7 p.m.
BHC Treasurer at County Annex, 1st and
3rd Thursday each month, 9 a.m. - 1
p.m.
Big Horn Basin chapter of Gold Prospec-
tors Association of America, Skyline
Cafe in Powell, 2nd Tuesday, 7 p.m.,
754-5921.
Big Horn County 4-H Leader's Council,
1st Monday, Extension Office on Hwy.
310, 6:30 p:m.
Big Horn County Weed and Pest monthly
board meeting, 2nd Tuesday, 12:30
p.m., W&P office at 4782 Hwy. 310,
Greybull.
Byron Lions Club, 548-7543.
Cancer Support Group, 3rd Thursday, 7
p.m., NHCC multi-purpose room.
Community Garden Club, 2nd Thurs-
day, Big Horn Federal, 7 p.m.
Cowley Riding Club, 3rd Monday, 7 p.m.,
307-664-2235.
CLUB and BOARD MEETINGS
Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce gen-
eral membership meeting, 3rd Monday,
noon, place ffia.
Lovell Bulldog Booster Club, 3rd
Wednesday. Big Horn Federal Hospi-
tality Room, 7 pm.
Friends of the Library, 2nd Wednesday,
Lovell Library, 5:00 p.m. Contact Linda
Mangus, 548-2031.
Lovell Library Family History Time,
every Monday, 1-4 p.m.
Lovell Library Story Time, every Tues-
day, 10:30 a.m.
Lovell Riders, Inc. meeting, 1st Friday, 7
p.m., call 548-9918 for location.
Lovell Town Council, 2nd Tuesday,
Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Lovell Woman's Club, 2nd Wednesday,
Big Horn Federal Hospitality Room,
1 p.m. Contact Deanna Wagner, 548-
7793.
North Big Horn County Health Coali-
tion, 3rd Tuesday, noon, rotating loca-
tions, 548-6410.
North Big Horn Hospital Hometown
Healthy Living, 1st Tuesday, 7-10 a.m.,
at NBHH.
Ostomy Support Group meeting, 2nd
Tuesday, 6 - 8 p.m., North Fork room,
West Park Hospital in Cody.
Pindroppers Quilt Club, check Mayes
Fabric for details.
TOPS @ WY169, every Thursday, St.
John's Episcopal Church basement in
Powell, 6 p.m. 664-2394
TOPS Wyo 318, every Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.,
New Horizons Care Center
Tri-Mountain View Masonic Lodge,
2nd Thursday, dinner 6:30 p.m., lodge
meeting 7:30 p.m.
WyDOT Driver Licensing Facility open
in Lovell every Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to
4 p.m.
Call the Lovell Chronicle at 548-2217 to
list your club here.
Sponsored by
LOVELL
234 E Main, Lovelt, WY.307-548-2217
l 9
Al d s
Corners
Ca]i~your ~r in now and
Gynecology
pick it up at the drive through!
195 W. Main, Lovell
307-548-7493
Minchow's
FOOD COURT
353 E. Main, Lovell
548-7979
Rheumatology
Mon.-Sat.: 10am-1Opm
Sun.: 10am-9pm
Open Monday-Saturday
13am-7pm
f-F Hwy. 310 in Deaver
at.in Lovell (Switchback)
307-272-9695
Main dish choices include: Orange chicken, black
pepper beef, honey glazed pork, Mongolian BBQ
pork, Kung Pao chicken, beef w/peppers. Add
your choice of side dish...
North Big Horn
Senior Center
757 Great Western Ave.
Lovell
Fuel up your vehicle
and your belly...
Barbecue beef, Nachos, Soup,
Chicken, Asian Meals, Fries,
Burgers, Sausages, Pizza, Biscuits &
Gravy, Breakfast Burritos, Popcorn,
Corn Dogs, Pretzels.
1801 Hwy. 310, Lovell
307-548-7246
Red Apple
Hot meals every weekday/
60+ just $2.50
Non-seniors $5.00
Mon.-Fri.: 12-1pro
No reservations required
9 E. Main, Lovell
All you need for a hot meal
or picnic!
Fe, atudn~j CheeVer'Frle, d and
WondelP, oae¢ ohlokenl
Mon.-Sat.: 8am-8pm
Sun.: 9am-6pm
The Big Horn Basin's
Regional
Medical Center
BI:f[FI ' GREAT
........ PLACES
IOOtowoRK
est ark
HOSPITAL
CODY, WYOMING
The West Park Hospital Medical Staff includes a wide range of primary
care physicians and specialists, from Anesthesiology to Urgent Care,
to serve the needs of the entire Big Horn Basin.
For more information about these doctors, including educational background and professional interests,
visit www.westparkhospital.org and click on "Find a Physician."
Ajax, Theodore .................. (307) 527-7501 Gee, Allen ........................... (307) 578-1985
rac e,'u e ...................... (307) 27-7 01 /
Low, Bradley ...................... (307) 213-9713
Schmidt, Catherine ........... (307) 578-1960 Poffenbarger, Jeff ............... (307) 578-1955
Rashkow, Andrew .............. (307) 578-2980 Bowman, Debra ................. (307) 587-3133
Beia, Todd .......................... (307) 578-2000 Biles, Jimmie ..................... (307) 578-1953
Bollinger, Kirk .................. (307) 578-2000 Emery, Stephen .................. (307) 578-1959
Brown, Aaron .................... (307) 578-2000 Lee, Jared ........................... (307) 578-1955
Cianflone, Alex .................. (307) 578-2000 Schmidt, Frank .................. (307) 578-1955
Polley, Scott ........................ (307) 578-2000 Winzenried, Jay ................. (307) 527-7100
Bowlby, Adair .................... (307) 527-7561 Clegg, Pamela P. ................. (307) 578-2696
Harvey, Lisa ....................... (307) 527-7561
Morton, Douglas ............... (307) 527-7561 Jamieson, Charles .............. (307) 587-5545
Peters, Adam ...................... (307) 527-7561
Trotter, John ....................... (307) 527-7561 i :i~i :i,i
: Beachler, Lael .................... (307) 527-9191
Etter, Thomas .................... (307) 578-2947 Fraser, Hugh ...................... (307) 527-9191
Welch, Charles G ............... (307) 587-9800 i!I :[
Hopkins, Matthew ............ (307) 586-2324
Myers, Dale ........................ (307) 587-1155 Nelson, Sandra .................. (307) 578-2283
Pollard, Scott ..................... (307) 578-2283
McCue, Gregory ................ (307) 527-7501
Seger, Clint ......................... (307) 527-7501 Danforth, Rebecca ............. (307) 578-2975
Slight, Kim ........................ (307) 527-7501
Weaver, Tyler ................... ...(307) 527-7501 It***
: Stewar~7-5131
Anderson, Richard ............ (307) 578-2975 i: i"
Bracke, Rachael ................. (307) 578-2975 Simone, Kelly .................... (307) 578-2903
Dykstra, Alden ............ . ..... (307) 527-7561
Lowther, Christopher ....... (307) 587-7000 707 Sheridan Avenue, Cody
307-527-7501 • 1-800-654-9447 • www.westparkhospital.org
