12 I The Lovell Chronicle I June 3, 2010 www.LovellChronicle.com
• • •
BY SHARON HALL
More than one year ago,
Colonel Richard Knowl-
ton, the commander of the
llhth Fires Brigade, and
other support staff visited
Wyoming communities to
communicate information
about their upcoming de-
ployment. He returned to
Lovell on May 25 to follow
up after the nearly year-
long deployment ended.
The mis sion of the 115th
Fires Brigade was to pro-
vide convoy security, force
protection and life support
operations within the Ku-
wait and Iraq Area of Re-
sponsibility (AOR) in order
to protect and sustain forces
supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom (air) 09-10. The
final phase of the operation
was to redeploy and reinte-
grate all returning soldiers
into their pre-deployment
environment.
The Brigade had sev-
eral missions and was in
eight countries at one point
in time. Everything that the
military needed was trans-
ported in and out of Iraq by
National Guard soldiers.
They drove 5.5 million
miles in 27,000 missions, in
combat theater, with a bet-
ter safety record than Unit-
ed States highways. The
local 2/300th drove 3.2 mil-
lion miles of that. This suc-
cess was due in part to the
operational readiness and
equipment availability be-
ing maintained at 95 per-
cent thanks to the leaders
and effective maintenance
crews. The 960th provided
all of the essential services
that a city would provide in
their operation.
Soldiers face unique
situations while away from
home. Col. Knowlton saw
the importance of having an
expert in behavioral science
available, and Major Leon
Chamberlain was brought
along. When he began his
assignment, he asked the
colonel what he wanted him
to do. Colonel Knowlton
replied, "Take care of sol-
diers." This allowed him to
go wherever he was need-
ed to take care of soldiers
whenever he was needed,
and develop relationships.
Major Chamberlain was
at last week's meeting and
DAVm PECK
Col. Richard Knowlton addresses guardsmen and their families during the
reintegration program last Tuesday night, May 25, at the Lovell Middle School
Commons.
wants families, employ-
ers and communities to
be aware of some changes
that may be seen in soldiers
upon their return and to be
aware that help is available
and encouraged.
Many people, especial-
ly soldiers, may steer away
from mental health profes-
sionals such as himself, he
said, but he explained men-
tal health as being able to
problem solve, see one's
strengths, and see how to
be successful there (Ku-
wait, Iraq) and at home.
With that in mind, more
people are encouraged to
seek mental health.
There are some changes
family friends may see
in soldiers returning home,
and Major Chamberlain en-
couraged those around sol-
diers to be aware and seek
help if they see various
changes in soldiers they are
near. They may experience
anger, substance abuse, dif-
ficulty transitioning to fam-
ily and friends, as well as
the changes in their roles.
There are things soldiers
can do, including accept-
ing change as being normal,
and allowing themselves to
link with people and build
their support systems. Also,
changed roles need to be
worked through, he said. In
conclusion, he stated that
Wyoming soldiers "did a
wonderful job."
In an effort to ensure the
soldiers returned spiritual-
ly intact, Colonel Knowlton
brought along eight chap-
lains to the operation, four
of which were from Wyo-
ming. One of them, Cap-
tain Randy Sawyer from
Sheridan, was at the meet-
ing May 25 to speak. They
worked together with sol-
diers with different reli-
gions and belief systems.
The chaplains were also
able to work with some of
the civilian contractors, as
well. They provided cha-
pel services, had the un-
pleasant job of delivering
some Red Cross messages
and worked with soldiers
in general. Also, within
12-24 hours of receiving a
Red Cross message requir-
ing attention at home, the
soldiers were on a plane
home.
While in the country,
Colonel Knowlton could
keep an eye on his soldiers,
but now that they are home
it is up to those living with
the soldiers. As he said, a
soldier will not typically
ask for help, and he asked
for those in the communi-
ties they visited to keep
an eye out for Wyoming's
soldiers now that they are
home. Most have no issues
with Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD), but some
do.
Colonel Knowlton con-
cluded the meeting by ask-
ing communities to support
the Yellow Ribbon Freedom
Salutes that are being held
around the state. One will
be held in Worland on June
12th, and the communities
are invited to attend.
He also wants people to
know that, first, Wyoming's
soldiers did a great job. Sec-
ond, the families did a great
job. Last, the job is not over
yet.
Weather spotter training
in Lovell June 10
People interested in
serving as volunteer wea-
ther spotters for the Na-
tional Weather Service are
encouraged to attend a free
training session in Lovell
next week. Meteorologists
from the NWS Riverton of-
fice will hold a two-hour Se-
vere Weather Spotter Trai-
ning class beginning at 6
p.m. Thursday, June 10, at
the Lovell Fire Hall.
The class is free of char-
ge and open to all area re-
sidents interested in wea-
ther, thunderstorms or
public safety. Videos and
digital images highlight
the multimedia session in-
tended to assist volunteers
in learning to identify im-
portant thunderstorm cha-
racteristics, types of seve-
re weather, weather safety
and reporting procedures.
All course materials are
provided and completion
cards will be given to all vo-
lunteers. Current spotters
are encouraged to attend
the training as a refresher
course.
Weather spotter volun-
teers are asked to relay re-
ports of hazardous weather,
such as hail, flash flooding
and tornadoes, to the NWS
during active thunderstorm
days. Organized in a par-
tnership between the NWS
and local county emergen-
cy management agencies,
volunteer weather spotters
play an integral role in as-
sisting forecasters in the
weather warning process,
according to Chris Jones,
warning coordination me-
teorologist at the Riverton
NWS office.
'Tqe have nearly i,000
trained spotters in 11 coun-
ties across western Wyo-
ming. Without their real-
time ground truth reports
it would be very difficult to
verify exactly what type of
weather is occurring with a
thunderstorm," Jones said.
"Radar and satellite are
tremendous tools, but they
cannot take the place of
people reporting to us what
is actually occurring on the
ground.
"Reports from trained
volunteer weather spotters
assist us in identifying li-
kely locations of future
storm damage and provi-
ding more detailed warning
information for the public.
Simply put, this network
helps us better perform our
core mission of protecting
lives and property."
Additional information
on storm spotting is availa-
ble on the NWS Website at
http://www.weather.gov/ri-
verton or by calling the Ri-
verton officeat (800) 211-
1448.
DUP learns
bout
pioneer photos
The Big Horn Company
of DUP began their regular
monthly meeting on May
10 with a pot luck salad
luncheon. The food was de-
licious and the tables were
adorned with bouquets of
fresh flowers.
The Pledge of Alle-
giance was led by Nancy
Bullinger of Burlington.
They say that laughter
is "good for the soul" as well
as your health and Patty
Hansen shared an extreme-
ly funny journal entry from
the Pioneer Museum that
had everyone laughing.
Dorothy Winterholler
shared a pioneer history of
her ancestors, William Ellis
and Ellen Banks. She told
of the six months that they
were at sea going to Austra-
lia in 1837, and then sailing
to the USA in 1855.
Song leader Ann Bridg-
es led us in singing, "The
man on the flying trapeze".
Pioneer Photography
was the subject for our guest
speaker, Sheraldene Jones
of Lovell, which turned out
to be a very fascinating sub-
ject. She talked about dif-
ferent processes that were
used, which included Da-
guerriotype, Ambrotype
and Tintype. Portraits done
in oil as well as crayon were
discussed. The Pioneer Mu-
seum inI Lake City
houses more than 25,000
pioneer photos.
President Mary Jens-
en's proposal that we hold
a "Jubilee" celebration re-
ceived an affirmative vote.
This will be a special ac-
tivity to be held at the new
Byron museum at i p.m. on
June 14. This celebration
will include a picnic in the
park.
CONSIDERING A VASECTOMY?
Why not have it done by the only board certified urologist
located full time in the basin?
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UROLOGICAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN WYOMING PC
Specializing in the "no needle/no scapel technique."
15 minute office procedure.
Frequently done on Friday with the possibility of back to light-duty work on Monday,
D~ Gregory Stewart Vasectomy reverals also available at competitive pricing.
Clinics held in Powell • Basin - Big Horn Clinic • Greybull - Midway Clinic
Tlwrmopolis - Hot Springs Co. Memorial Hospital. VA patients accepted with prior approval.
225 W. YELLOWSTONE AVE., SuiTe 9 • C0DY, WY
To schedule an appointment please call 307-587-5131
APPLICATIONS REQUESTED
Letters of Application arc requested from residents of the
Byron Solid Waste District who are' interested in serving on
the Byron Solid Waste Board. Mail applications to the Big
Horn County Commissioners at P.O. Box 31, Basin, WY
82410, by 5:00 p.m., June 14, 2010.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Stories • Games • Crafts
Every Tuesday morning
10-11 am
Constitution Park
United Methodist Church
J
Need your
Annual Exam?
a Mammo
Have an abnormal result and
need additional testing?
Call Women's
877-754-5252
or email jgerdts@tctwest
OMEN'S
at Wyoming Migrant
615 E. 7th St.,
754-5252 • toll flee
Monday - Saturday
8 am - 9 pm
Sunday
9 am - 6 pm
9 East Main, Lovall, Wyoming
Lu $ 75
nch Buffet 6
Tues. - Fri. 11 am - 2:30 pm
Sat. & Sun. 11 am - 4 pm
Dinner Buffet $925
Tues. - Fri. 4:30 - 9 pm
Sat & Sun. 4 - 9 pm
151 E. Coulter, Powell, 754-7924
Open Tues. - Sun. £~ ::::~
11 am- 9 pm !i~i!i~: ~:
Carry-Out Available i :i~ii~
Watch out for the
24" ANNIVERSARY SALE
Northwest Trading Post is celebrating
serving the Powell area since 1986 with
great savings store wide, Everything will
be on sale for one week only,
Sale from June 7 to 12, 2010
LARK STREET
POWELL,
WYOMING
FRIDAY
10AM-6PM
