July 19, 2012 ] The Lovell Chronicle ] 11
Smoking in designated areas
allowed on fairgrounds
BY KARLA POMEROY
While signs posted
along the midway at the
Big Horn County Fair last
year declared no smoking
on the fairgrounds, few peo-
ple complied, according to
Sheriff Ken Blackburn.
He said while the coun-
ty has a policy of no tobac-
co on county property, the
county does not have an
enforceable ordinance. At
Tuesday's commissioner
meeting, he sought input
on how to handle tobacco at
this year's fair.
Blackburn said he agrees
that smoking should not be
allowed in any of the build-
ings or the livestock barns.
He said he also believes it
should not be allowed in the
grandstands or other areas
where a large number of peo-
ple are gathered.
He said a no tobacco
policy affects a lot of smoke-
less tobacco users, which
one usually finds at fairs
and rodeos.
Chairman Jerry Ewen
said, "I'm OK with a no
smoking policy. It is a
health hazard." However,
he said he would agree to
a suggestion of designated
smoking areas.
Blackburn said if this
year they can direct smok-
ers to designated areas,
then he can work with the
county attorney's office on
working on an enforceable
ordinance for the future.
The commissioners ap-
proved a motion to allow
smoking on the fairgrounds
in designated areas. The
sheriff and the fair board
would determine the areas.
DAVID PECK
Curtis Abraham gave rides in his Robinson 1{44 Raven II helicopter to the
delight of many Saturday afternoon and evening, dazing riders with a swing
along a field, up and over Eagle Rock, down the Shoshone River and back to the
landing site near the Byron Town Park.
DAVID PECK
Fans of the Byron Days Fireworks annually clog the park long before the
display as shown by this aerial photo taken from Curtis Abraham's helicopter
Saturday evening.
DAVID PECK
Gerrone and Latisha Bauer of Salt Lake City were two of the passengers who
enjoyed a ride in Curtis Abraham's Robinson helicopter Saturday evening.
Luminaria to light way for Relay for Life
There are many touch-
ing moments during the
American Cancer Society
Big Horn County Relay for
Life, but none is more mov-
ing than the luminaria cer-
emony held just after dusk.
This year's Big Horn Coun-
ty Relay for Life Luminaria
Ceremony will take place
on Aug. 10 at 10 p.m. at the
Lovell High School track.
Luminarias are pa-
per lanterns consisting
of a lighted candle set in
sand inside of a paper bag.
During the luminaria cer-
emony, the bags are ar-
ranged to form inspira-
tional words. The bags are
rearranged throughout the
night to form different in-
spirational words. Lumi-
narias can be purchased in
advance from team mem-
bers and planning commit-
tee volunteers.
Traditionally, luminar-
ia are purchased in memory
of a loved one who has died
of cancer or in honor of one
still bravely fighting the
disease. Once purchased,
they can be inscribed with
the individual's name and
are often decorated as a
tribute to their lives. On the
evening of the Relay, vol-
unteers place the luminar-
ia around the inside lane
of the track. At dusk they
are lit, the stadium lights
are dimmed and a power
point presentation is shown
that honors those people
who have fought the fight.
Pictures of loved ones can
also be placed on the power
point.
Donations collected by
the teams and from the sale
of the luminaria are used by
the American Cancer Soci-
ety to continue its mission
to eliminate cancer as a ma-
jor health concern.
To purchase a luminar-
ia, or to learn more about
the American Cancer Soci-
ety Big Horn County Relay
for Life, contact Lori Schef-
tier at 272-1601 or e-mail
scheitctwest.net.
The committee will also
be collecting cans of food at
the Red Apple Supermar-
ket and the Hyart Theater
to use as weights in the bot-
torn of the bags. After the
event, the canned goods will
be donated to the local food
bank.
Speakers and tours at Bighorn Canyon NRA
The staff at the Bighorn
Canyon National Recre-
ation Area invites the pub-
lic to join researchers and
special speakers at the Cal
S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon
Visitor Center in Lovell ev-
ery Thursday at 7 p.m. for
the summer speaker series.
This Thursday, July 19,
Emily and Dani, Big Horn
Canyon sheep research-
ers, will share information
about their research proj-
ects.
Big Horn Canyon was
named for the bighorn
sheep that use this area.
Emily and Dani will be dis-
cussing the history of the
sheep in the canyon, the
importance of understand-
ing the foraging behavior
and habits when managing
the population, and the ef-
fect of terrain characteris-
tics and forage quantity on
the way the sheep use the
land. They will also talk
about population estimat-
ing and the marking meth-
od they will be using to es-
timate the current size of
the sheep population in the
canyon.
On Friday and Satur-
day evening, visitors are
also invited to attend one of
the following campground
presentations:
July 20 - "Hey Rang-
er, why can't 'we feed the
bears?," Horseshoe Bend
Campground Loop B Am-
phitheater, Ranger Jessica
Korhut, 8 p.m.
July 21 - "Eddy Hul-
bert The Silversmith,"
Horseshoe Bend Camp-
ground Loop B Amphithe-
ater, Ranger Danielle Peck,
8 p.m.
July 21 -"Bear Neces-
sities," Black Canyon, 3
p.m., Afterbay Amphithe-
ater, 8 p.m., Ranger Adri-
enne Moore.
On Sunday July 22,
Ranger Christy Fleming
will conduct a tour of the
Caroline Lockhart Ranch.
The tour will begin at 1
p.m. at the Lockhart gate
opposite the outhouse on
• the main park road and
will last approximately 1½
hours. The walk into the
ranch is a half-mile round
trip. Fleming will share
pieces of Lockhart's history
and What brought her tO the
Dryhead. Accommodations
can be made for handicap
access to the ranch.
Rangers are also con-
ducting programs on Mark
Garrison's Hidden Treasure
Charter boat tours most
Friday and Saturday after-
noons at 2 p.m. through Au-
gust 11.
Rangers cover a variet-
ies of topics from Crow leg-
ends to geology.
For information about
upcoming programs or to
make arrangements for ac-
cessibility for the Lockhart
tour, call the visitor center
at 548-5406.
School District One trustees review, approve new budget
BY BOB RODRIGUEZ
Patrons of Big Horn
County School District One
demonstrated significant
unspoken trust and confi-
dence in district trustees
and staff by not attend-
ing public hearings during
which two budgets invol.ving
millions of dollars were ap-
proved for the 2012-13 fiscal
year that began July 1.
The seven-member
board met Thursday eve-
ning, July 12, in the cen-
tral office in Cowley. Also
attending were Richard
Parker, business manager;
Genevieve Mann, adminis-
trative assistant; Mick Es-
quivel, technology direc-
tor; Superintendent Shon
Hocker and a reporter for
the Chronicle. No members
of the general public were
present.
Trustees voted 7-0 to
adopt the new general fund
budget of $13.9 million as
presented by Parker, who
stood before the board with
voluminous files and pro-
vided insight and explana-
tions as to the extensive
and complex budget figures.
Tongue-in-cheek, Chairman
Dave Monk said, 'rou're in
the hot seat." Parker first
spoke for 34 minutes dur-
ing the budget hearing for
the district's main financial
categories. Later, he prof-
fered the district's recre-
ation district budget during
a hearing that lasted nearly
30 minutes and which in-
cluded discussion regarding
an insurance dilemma in-
volving recreational events.
Trustee Koleen Sponsel
conducted that hearing as
chairman of the rec board.
The $87,990 rec bud-
get was adopted 7-0. Funds
come from a one mill levy
and are disbursed to the
five rec organizations in
the communities in the dis-
trict based on the number of
students from each who at-
tend the district's schools.
It was stated that $135.86
per student is to be provid-
ed. Allocations of $86,000
by community: Burlington
$31,000; Byron $16,000;
Cowley $29,000; Deaver
$6,000; and Frannie $4,000.
The $87,990 represents a
cash balance, Parker said,
with the difference between
it and the adopted figure
available for operational ex-
penses if needed.
The rec budget hearing
included nearly 15 minutes
worth of deliberation after
Hocker advised that the in-
surance carrier for the rec
district wants an indemni-
ty clause revised to hold the
district harmless. Hocker
stated that, "We would be
putting liability on those
groups" that conduct activi-
ties under the rec program.
Of concern to the carrier,
he indicated, is the district
being held responsible for
injury if the district is not
specifically at fault. He out-
lined an example in which
perhaps a dance group par-
ticipant would suffer inju-
ry by trying to jump over a
broom handle. In that case
the district would not be at
fault, but if a piece of badly
installed carpet in a district
facility caused a mishap,
then it would be a different
story. Another aspect to lia-
bility insurance, it was not-
ed, is that not all activities
under the rec programs oc-
cur at district facilities. Sub-
sequent to discussion about
the multifaceted issue, no
action was taken except
that Hocker was directed to
explore the matter with the
attorney for the district.
The primary budget
for the district will require
taxes totaling $2.7 mil-
lion. Parker explained that
this year's local sources
amount to $2,187,986 while
the figure last year was
$2,000,373. He added that
this year's county sources
will amount to $633,543
and that last year's figure
was $475,383. As another
part of the district's financ-
es, Parker and Hocker ex-
plained a proposal during
the regular meeting about
raising annual base pay for
the district's Wyoming Con-
nections Academy teachers
from $40,000 to $41,000.
The vote was 5-0 in favor
with Trustees Ed Riding
and Sponsel abstaining be-
cause of a possible conflict
of interest.
At one point, Trustee
Brett Crosby asked Parker
how much of the general
fund budget goes for sala-
ries and benefits. The busi-
ness manager estimated
that the figure is 74 per-
cent. The superintendent
offered the view that most
school districts use from 80
to 83 percent of their bud-
get for personnel and ben-
efits. "Eighty percent is the
rule of thumb," said Parker.
Hocker stated that there is
a slight rise for the district
because of salary increases.
LUNCH PRICES LISTED
Regarding school lunch-
es, the business manager
said that elementary stu-
dents will pay $2.30 and
that middle and high school
students will pay $2.60,
representing a rise of 5
cents from the past school
year. Breakfast prices will
remain unchanged at $1.65
for elementary pupils and
$1.85 for middle and high
school diners. The milk
contract for the new fiscal
year is with Powell Dairy
Service and Parker noted
that there will be a 1-cent
decrease per half pint of
1 percent milk and choco-
late milk. Quipped Hocker,
'rhen have you seen any
other prices drop?" Trustee
Paul Rasmussen questioned
whether the breakfast pro-
gram is cost-effective, due to
sparse participation. Parker
explained that most break-
fasts are served to students
eligible for reduced-price or
free meals. That satisfied
Rasmussen with Chairman
Dave Monk noting that chil-
dren need to eat.
Regarding the fact that
the district entered the
2012-13 year without an
adopted budget, Parker ex-
plained the situation after
the meeting. "The date of
the budget meeting until
this year was required to
be on the third Wednesday
of July," he said, 'ut that
requirement was changed
this past legislative session
to be no later than the third
Wednesday of July. So we
are always starting the new
year without an approved
budget."
Addressing the general
fund, Parker said that reve-
nues will total $13,972,049.
Expenses are listed as
Instruction $8,281,322;
Instructional Support
$774,880; General Sup-
port $4,634,329; Transfers
$281,518; and Cash Appro-
priation $2,674,510. Under
Special Programs, revenues
are projected at $1,387,397
with expenses exactly that
figure. Major Maintenance
revenues are to be $550,811
and expenses $332,699
with a cash appropriation
of $917,018.
The Food Service cat-
egory shows revenues of
$390950 with expenses
the same, and a cash ap-
propriation of $28,505. The
district sees its home rent-
al income, said Parker, as
$113,510 and expenses of
$175,256. The former dis-
trict office in Cowley, which
was a residence, has been
remodeled.
The general fund bud-
get also includes capital
rojects with revenues of
858,018 and expenses of
$1,607,119. Hocker said
that a new bus shelter, plus
construction of buildings
at the two athletic fields
to provide restrooms, stor-
age and concession stands,
plus press boxes, are to be
involved. He indicated that
the cost per each project
could amount to around
$80,000 to $90,000 and that
caused Crosby to express
astonishment.
"That's astronomical,"
he said. "Are they going to
be made of platinum?"
Hocker explained that
overall expenses will in-
clude cinder blocks, instal-
lation of utilities, electrical
work and labor and that
construction costs are not
cheap. ,
After devoting nearly
90 minutes to the budget
hearings and regular meet-
ing, the board and Hocker
adjourned to an executive
session to address various
employment matters. Exec-
utive sessions are conduct-
ed behind closed doors with
the public and press barred.
Upon returning to open ses-
sion after approximately 30
minutes, no announcement
was made, but subsequent-
ly in returning to open ses-
sion the board OK'd hiring
Christine Glodt and Michael
Loveland as teachers for the
Connections Academy.
