0O
Lovell walking
path project
could be revived
BY DAVID PECK
The community walking path
proposal that stalled a few years
ago could be revived if the Lovell
community gets behind a proj-
ect being proposed by a Bighorn
Canyon National Recreation Area
leader to tie in with a Park Service
project already being developed.
Bighorn Canyon Chief of In-
terpretation Christy Fleming said
this week that she would like to
see if the walking path project
could be resurrected, noting that
the Park Service is moving ahead
with a project to connect the vis-
itor center with the Pryor Moun-
tain Wild Mustang Center with a
walking path.
Fleming said Tuesday that
the Park Service/Wild Mustang
Center pathway project is an ex-
tension of landscaping project the
Youth Conservation Corps and
park maintenance staff have been
working on under the leadership
of Jennifer Schneider. The path
would come off the east sidewalk
at the visitor center and cross the
pasture to the mustang center.
The Town of Lovell a few
years ago extended sidewalk on
East Main on the north side of the
street around the corner to a point
at the Mike McArthur residence
directly across U.S. 14A from the
visitor center, and Fleming's idea
is to tie into that sidewalk and
take the project even further if
the community is willing.
At the very least, Fleming
would like to see the sidewalk in
front of the visitor center extend-
ed along new flower beds being
developed and on out to the Town
of Lovell sidewalk. Within the
SEE 'LOVELL WALKING PATH' page 3
This group of freshmen and sophomores got into the spirit of "Decades Day"
Pictured are (l-r) Brenden Lundberg, Paige Bischoff, Megan Cornia, Nathan
McArthur.
DAVID PECK
for homecoming Tuesday at Lovell High School.
Beal, Zachary Tirrell, Hailee Nielson and Meyja
BY DAVID PECK Wednesday. Thursday is Class
Lovell High School students Color Day: red for freshmen,
have been preparing to "Stuff purple for sophomores, camo for
the Buffs" as they enjoy thejuniors, black and white for se-
2015 homecoming celebration niors and blue for staff.
with a variety of activities, cul- Friday is Blue and White
minating with a game againstDay, which applies to the game
the Mountain View Buffaloes only since there is no school.
Friday night. Classes are engaging in the
Homecoming Week began spirit stick compe t on and
with American Day on Mon- class banner competition.
day, followed by Decades DayThe annual chili and cin-
Tuesday and Tacky Tourist Day namon rolls dinner is tonight
(Thursday) from 5 to 7 p.m. and
will be held in the multi-pur-
pose room at the high school,
moving from the Lovell Elemen-
tary School cafeteria, where the
event was held for many years.
With the new location of the
dinner, there will be no spirit
walk.
-The pep rally begins at 7
p.m. at the LHS Winterholler
Gym, followed by the bonfire
for students only. The pep rally
will include class competitions,
the LHS dance team, cheerlead-
ers, the recognition of fall sports
teams and activities and the an-
nouncement of the homecoming
royalty.
Kickoff for the Lovell-Moun-
tain View football game is
scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, and
the homecoming royalty will be
introduced at halftime.
A dance will follow the foot-
ball game Friday night.
BY PATI'I CARPENTER
Following several months of
what some perceive as turmoil and
others welcome as change, the dust
may finally start to settle at the
Lovell Police Department. With the
appointment by Mayor Angel Mon-
tanez of Chief Jason Beal and his
scheduled start date only a week
away, the employees of the police
department will soon have leader-
ship again.
"When Jason showed interest
in the position, I knew right away
that's who I wanted for the chief,"
said Montanez. "He lives here, he
grew up here in Lovell, he knows
people, he's well-rounded and he
has a lot of contacts (with different
agencies and organizations) in the
area. And, he doesn't have any is-
sues, at least none that I've heard
of."
Beal said he is excited to take
on his new responsibilities starting
on Oct. 1. He said he isn't planning
to make any sweeping changes un-
til he's had the opportunity to work
side by side with the current staff
and is able to fully appraise the sit-
uation at hand.
Currently the department is
staffed with two full-time police of-
ricers (Matt Koritnik and Brandon
Jolley), one school resource officer
(Kris Brimhall), one part-time an-
imal control officer (Christian Men-
doza) and one full-time officer in
training, Luke Welch, who is mid-
way through a 13-week training
program at the police academy in
Douglas. He is expected to gradu-
ate in November, at which time he
will be field-trained working along-
side an experienced officer. The de-
partment is currently advertising
for an additional hill-time officer,
with a deadline for applications of
Friday, Sept. 25. Interviewing ap-
plicants and hiring a new officer
will be one of Bears first priorities.
In the interim, Cowley Police
Chief Dan Anderson has assisted
the department, along with the Big
Horn County Sheriffs Department.
"Dan has actually been a great
asset to holding this department to-
gether," said Montanez. "He hasn't
been out there to be in the spot-
light, he's just been willing to help
in on
DAVID PECK
Mayor Angel Montanez congratulates new chief of police
Jason Beal following a swearing-in ceremony at town hall
Friday afternoon. Beal will assume his new post on Oct. 1.
out and to do whatever needs to be the personnel we have and I think
done to get the job done." Jason has the opportunity to train
The dispatch department cur- them the way he would like to see
rently has two full-time dispatch- them trained."
ers (Jennifer Massey and Angie Montanez said one of his goals
Morely-Brown), two dispatchers in is to see an officer from the LPD
training (Daniel Anderson Jr. and back in the local school system. He
Jessica Throssell) and is currently said he would like to see new posi-
advertising to fill a part-time dis- tions filled by locals and by young
patch position, with a deadline for people who have moved away to
applications in early October. continue their education who would
During several weeks of being like to return home.
short-staffed, dispatchers at the "I would like to see an officer
sheriffs department in Basin have back in our own school system, right
covered shifts. Montanez said he here in Lovell," said Montanez.
is grateful for the help the depart- Montanez said he has had a lot
ment has received from the sheriffs of complaints from his constituents
department, about excessive traffic stops, espe-
"The majority of my supporters, cially on Main Street. He said he
who voted for me, felt we needed would like to see that type of patrol
change in the police department," spread out more in the community.
explained Montanez. "That change In particular, he would like to see
needed to start from the top. I real- more side streets patrolled.
ly wasn't looking past that in terms "I think it's a deterrent to any-
of other personnel. I think we are one coming through here, to see so
at a new beginning right now with many patrol cars parked on Main
those who have decided to stay Street," said Montanez. ' rou don't
and those who are new. We have a
chance for a fresh start now with all SEE 'LPD FUTURE,' page 3
Economic future meetin next week
BY DAVID PECK
Members of the Lovell busi-
ness community, industry offi-
cials, community leaders and
members of the general public are
invited to weigh in on the future
of economic development in Lovell
during a public meeting next
Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Lovell Se-
nior Citizens Center.
The 7 p.m. meeting is being
Town's vision for the future by re-
specting community values, en-
abling the area to thrive with ap-
propriate, aesthetic land use that
promotes responsible economic
growth through suitable business
development.'
"It is always good to have pe-
riodic reviews of where we are and
to recommit ourselves to building
such a future. To accomplish this,
jointly hosted by the Lovell may- we should have discussions on the
or and town council, Lovell Inc. To 's vision for the: future, our
and the Lovell Area Chamber of communi values: : i d how we
Commerce. c :prom te econ0 ,wth."
"When running for may-: : : Montanez at-
or, I thought it was important to tend the meeting into
engage the businesses and the the discussion, addifi i "All of the
community in general in having host organizations are partner-
thoughtful discussions about the ing to make this meeting and the
future of our great community," work resulting from this forum a
Mayor Angel Montanez wrote in real success. Looking forward to
a letter of invitation being mailed seeing you there!"
to many community members this Lovell Inc. interim CEO Dave
week. Reetz said he is happy to talk with
"When our town master plananyone about the future of eco-
was created in 2006, the mis nomic development in Lov ll. He
sion of that task was to 'Create ]5'e reached at 548-6707 or
an adoptable plan to achieve the 307-254-0980.
Lovell Inc. to appeal IRS
BY PATTI CARPENTER form is not a tax return and does
Lovell Inc. is in the process of not require payment.
appealing a notice of penalties as- "It's not very complicated,
sessed by the Internal Revenue there's no tax due," he explained.
Service for failure to file a 990 re- "You simply need to file the form
port'mg form ,for the years 2012 every year (by May 15). Any
and 2013. IRS form 990 is an an- non-profit is required to do this.
nual reporting form required by It's basically a reporting of the
all non-profit organizations. Lovell year's activities."
Inc. is a non-profit economic devel- Reetz said the form was pre-
opment organization created ap- pared and submitted by an ac-
proximately eight years ago with counting firm in the year's 2008
the goal of bringing new business- and 2009. He said Taylor assumed
es and jobs to the community. Sue responsibility for submitting the
Taylor served as director of the or- form in 2010. According to records
ganization during those years, kept by Taylor, after requesting
According to Dave Reetz, who extensions, she filed forms for the
is managing Lovell Inc. on an in- years 2010 and 2011. However, she
terim basis following the depar- failed to file the form in 2012 and
ture of Taylor, the organization re- 2013 in a timely fashion and did
ceived a notice from the IRS at the not request an extension.
end of August assessing penalties
totaling $7,962.10 for failure to file SEE 'LOVELL INC.,'
the forms. Reetz clarified that the page 6
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