BY RYAN FITZMAURlCE
The community watch
continues to succeed in
Byron.
Big Horn Sheriff Ken
Blackburn said the group,
now almost a year old, has
proven to be a great asset for
both the community of By—
ron and the Big Horn Sher—
iff’s Department. Now signs
have been posted through—
out the community alerting
residents and visitors to the
group’s presence.
“We meet monthly and
in these monthly meet-
ings, we talk about different
types of safety, the neigh—
borhood watch model or
the community watch mod-
el. It’s the police, commu-
nity and the citizens work-
ing together to approve the
lifesty e of their citizens,”
Blackburn said. “It’s not
limited to just criminal ac—
tivity, it’s also public safety.”
Public meetings have
been suspended since
COVlD-19 hit, but additional
meetings should be sched-
uled soon. In the meantime,
the group has still been as
active as ever.
“It’s really brought us
together, especially with
COVID—IQ. We still stay in
contact with each other, we
still call people,” member
Todd Wilder said. “There’s
an outreach piece of this
that’s really working well.”
Deb Wilder, a founder of
the group, said as commu-
nity members were quar—
antining, the group played
a pivotal role in keeping the
community tight knit.
“We’d even just send
each other little jokes,
some laughs, just to light-
en up the situation,” said
Deb Wilder.
Blackburn said one of
his favorite things watch—
ing the group is seeing the
bond that has grown among
its members.
“It’s fun to see the uni-
t that’s developed among
t is group,” Blackburn said.
The group has played a
crucial role in other situa-
tions, as well. When 8,000
cubic feet per second was
released into the Shoshone
River last week, the com—
munity watch helped keep
children in the community
safe and dry.
“It gave us the oppor—
tunity to say keep the kids
home, keep the grand-
kids home, make sure they
don't play in the river until
it drops back down,” Black—
burn said. “It was just a
good notification of emer—
gencies. in the area, and
that’s what community
watch is designed to do. It’s
apolitical, and we’re work-
ing for the good of every
citizen.”
The group has also
started an incentive pro—
gram for children. If a child
is caught 'doing a good
RYAN FITZMAURICE
Members of the Byron Neighborhood Watch stand together in front of the
Byron town
sign. Above them to the left a second sign recently placed informs visitors
of their
presence. From left to right stand Harriet Jackson, Duane JacksOn, Savanna
Nash,
Deb Wilder, Todd Wilder, Heidi Brightly, Joyce Zarate, Linda NeVille, Pam
Hopkinson,
Sheriff Ken Blackburn, Deputy Austin Leonhard and Deputy Nathan Krieder.
deed, they’ll receive a cer-
tificate for a free candy bar
from the post office.
The Community Watch
began July 2019, when By-
ron transitioned their law
enforcement from a town
police force to being pro—
tected solely by the Big
Horn County Sheriff’s De-
partment. Mayor Pam Hop-
kinson said the group al—
lowed that transition to be
positive.
“It gave us an opportu-
nity to get to know our of—
ficers, and our sheriff has
been so great in supporting
us and making sure we had
the resources to start the
Cowley Pioneer Daycoming together
BY DAVID PECK
' ' ‘Details are comingin
about the Cowley Pioneer
Day'cel'ebration, which will
take place next Friday and
Saturday, July 17—18.
According to commit—
tee member Sherie Monk,
COVID—19 restrictions and
other factors have forced
the cancellation of four
events: the Heritage Pro—
gram at the church, kids
games in the park, the vol-
leyball tournament and the
evening variety show.
Many events remain,
however. Here’s a look at
theevents as planned:
. Friday. July 17 .7 Ice
Cream Social at the town
park, 7 pm.
Saturday, July 18 Fun
Run, 7 am, one mile and 5K
run, 5K and Cannery
bike race. Register a 6:30
am. Line up on Main Street
in front of Town Hall. Call
Jodi Winland about any
questions.
Kiddie Parade, 9:30
am. Line up in front of Town
Hall. No motorized vehicles.
Pioneer Day Parade, 10
am. Line up begins at 9 am.
at the city shop at the west
Road -'
end of town. Call Janeen
Blackburn at 307-254f13f32
fer more information_,“j" “ '
- Classic Car Show,
noon, Rocky Mountain El—
ementary School. Show
moved this year due to the
water tower construction.
- Horseshoe tourna—
ment at the park, 1 pm, or—
ganized by Butch Fink.
- Cornhole tournament
in the park, 1 pm, spon-
sored by the Cowley Recre—
ation District.
Pioneer Day Rodeo, 2
pm, sponsored by the Cow-
ley Riding Club. Call 307—
664—2235 for information.
FireWorks in the Park,
10 pm, sponsored by the
Town of Cowley and the Pi-
oneer Day Committee.
Monk said those watch—
ing the fireworks are invit—
ed to do so from their own
yard or from a‘car, in or—
der to help promote social
distancing at the park. The
fireworks will be launched
from the baseball diamond,
she said.
There will be multiple
food options around town,
Monk said, as well as sever-
al retail vendors at the park.
Northwest College annoUnces fall 2020 reopening plan
After receivin a proval
July6by the Boar 0 Trust—
ees, Northwest College has
released a reopening plan
for fall 2020, which includes
precautions to mitigate the
spread of COVID—19 and a
mixture of flexible in—person
and online course options
for students. The approach
aims to be as disruption-re-
sistant to student learning
as possible.
“While our goal is for
students to have a nor-
mal, uninterrupted semes-
ter, we also want to keep
them safe,” NWC President
Stefani Hicswa said. “This
plan puts us on the right
path toward reducing the
spread of COVID—19 while
remaining student centered
and focused on delivering
high-quality education.”
Personal protective
equipment (PPE) will be re—
quired. All employees and
students will be required to
wear face coverings, main-
tain social distancing prac—
tices and limit in—person ‘
gatherin s. Members of the
public w 0 visit campus are
required to do the same.
“We’re excited to wel-
come students back in the
fall, but it’s important to note
that our priority is to keep
students safe and support
them in completing fall se-
mester successfully,” Hicswa
said. “Students should be as-
sured that if they begin the
semester online or in—per—
son, we will have resources
available to help them finish
the term successfully, even
if we are directed to close
campus by county or state
health officials."
Increased cleaning and
disinfecting of high-touch
surfaces are also part of the
plan. In addition, students
who choose to live on cam—
pus will live in a single room
for a reduced rate, and work
is underway to modify din—
ing services to maintain so-
cial distancing.
There are six designated
objectives that guide NWC’s
strategy for responding to
COVID—19, which include the
following: protect employ—
ees’ and students’ health and
safety, communicate regu-
larly and clearly, maintain
continuity and integrity of
services, when/where pos-
sible, limit or reduce finan-
cial or legal impacts when/
where possible, establish
and maintain contacts and
connections with federal,
state or local officials and
restore regular college op—
erations partially or entirely
when/where possible.
The plan is desi ned to
be adaptable to al ow for
up-to—date information and
changing conditions. Full
implementation of the plan
is contingent on NWC re—
ceiving federal fundin from
the Coronavirus Ai , Re-
lief and Economic Security
(CARES) Act.
For more information,
visit https://nwc.edu/covid.
&1 Mile Fun Run at
,:}';Town Park/Center Street
. assentry fee. Drawing for prizes at
1 the end of the run;
,‘Cbntact Caleb, Sanders at
, soy—azz-oezseptexi Sanders at H
30742:?2z-0469for. more‘information,
Market Row Vendors:
around Town Parkl‘g v
Center Street Therewi'aib'e ' '
a limited amount of vendors located ' :
around the park. _' I. Y.
Food Vendors: Andy’s Donuts, 'Elj'orft'
Hawg Heaven, Munchies, .. Topp 01a
Concessions
Paradeo
. ain'Stree'tii V
.,.(fie/d opens at PM)
a July 9,2020 The Lovell Chronicle I3
The new Cowley
ANNETTE Moss
water tower appears to be a
surrounded by a hu e shower curtain during painting
work recently. Resi ents of Cowley have been watching
the progress of the project with great interest.
Cowley News
What is going on with
the water tower?
BY DENA MOSS
406—531-0681
Over the past few
months We noticed
changes occurring to the
new water tower. First,
these metal protrusions
from the outside of the
top came into View, mak—
ing it appear like a huge
birdie that you would play
badminton with. Then a
huge curtain surrounded
the entire tank, making it
look like a great big show—
er. The next day the show-
er curtain down and
it didn’t look any'djfferent.
Nothing magical had hap-
pened behind the curtain
that I could see. After vis—
iting with the crew, I now
understand more of what
is happening.
They have been sand-
blasting inside and out
in an effort to get rid of
any rust that had devel—
oped over the winter from
the raw metal being ex—
posed to the moisture. it
was very visible under-
neath the tank, and an ob-
vious difference where it
had been sandblasted and
primed. By the time it is
completed the tower will
have received, thorough-
ly and throughout, at least
three coats of paint and
primer.
One morning as I was
walking/jogging with two
of my grandsons from out
of town we saw a few men
who appeared to be in har—
nesses attached to ropes
scaling the outside of the
water tower. The boys be—
gan cheering and holler—
ing because they were so
impressed. I made quick
note to hush them since I
imagined how dangerous
it must have been work—
ing that high. I informed
them that those men were
risking their lives to build
the new water tower so we
would have a better wa—
ter supply and should be
shown some reverence
in order for them to con-
centrate on the work the
were doing. I’m sure al
the safety measures are in
place. A man basket is at—
tached to the side of the
tower, along with paint—
er rings to attach to it, as
well.
Improvements that
will happen include a larg—
er volume of water and a
mixer or agitator inside
the tank to circulate the
water, keeping it fresh-
er'jTW'o‘ lines Will be going
into the tank, 'one going in
and one going out, where
the old tank only had one
line going in and out both.
The water pressure will
increase by 10 pounds.
When all is complete
it will look like the old wa-
ter tower, with maroon,
not red, lettering with
the name of the town dis—
played, much taller and
more visible.
When asked how
things are oing, the man-
ager state that the wind
was a real problem for a
while, but now things are
going well. In fact, the
wind broke the flag pole,
but they were able' to re-
attach it. The flag is look—
ing a little tattered, like
our country it has had a
few problems, but judg-
ing by the fireworks on the
Fourth of July in Cowley,
we love our country and
support her with dramat—
ic spirit!
FYI: Boost’s Steam
Camp will be held at Cow-
ley Town Park during the
month of July, free for all
Rocky Mountain Elemen—
tary students. Those with
questions can call or text
307—202-2468 (Jerry An-
derson, RMES Boost Site
coordinator). The cam
actually started on the St
of July, but kids could start
late, if necessary.
CO-ED v”?
‘Toumam
"cash: prizes for winners. Registration
. j ,l'd'eadiine is Friday, July 10, by 8 AM.
1’ 'Pl Se contact Natalie Collins to
Due to social distancin’ ' i
setting up reservations}; _ I,
baseball field for a smallvf"
