4 The Lovell Chronicle l October 29, 2015
people
stepping up in our
comm unity
We're sensing a new generation of leaders in our community, a
bit of a changing of the guard — and that’s a good thing.
A few cases in point:
The gathering of walking enthusiasts who attended the initial
meeting Thursday night to get the ball rolling on a community walk-
ing and/or bike path for Lovell included a number of young people
in the mix, as well as the “old veterans” who have led the effort in
the past. it was good to see the young energy in the room.
The Rose City Recycling committee that led me effort to forge
a new recycling program for the community now that the National
Park Service is stepping aside as the primary sponsor was led by
a number of 20-somethings. Many young people have grown up
with recycling and got behind the effort to research and expand
recycling in Lovell.
A group of “young moms" is behind the effort to design and
find funding for a new “family park” adjacent to the splash park in
Cowley. The ladies have come up with an innovative way to allow
those who will use the park the most — kids — to play a big role in
designing the park and coming up with a theme.
There are young people in key positions in our community. At
a recent meeting with Lovell lnc. interim director Dave Reetz, new
Lovell Town Administrator Jed Nebel (along with Town Clerk/Trea-
surer Valerie Beal) was brimming with ideas for ways to bring the
community together -- from summertime downtown music to res-
urrecting the free community barbecue that used to be held 30
years ago.
Those involved with the Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce
have enjoyed the energ/ and enthusiasm of new chamber office
manager Celecia Gallagher, who has built on the great work done
by her predecessor, Jackie Heinert. Jackie breathed new life into
the position and got many new programs going like the downtown
bicycle racks and the turkey trot during the Holiday Mingle, and Ce-
lecia is following in her footsteps with even more new ideas.
The popular Big Horn Canyon Triathlon and the Hyart Film Fes-
tival are organized by the young Zeller brothers, Ben and Jason,
who took ideas from a Lovell Inc. organized brainstorming event a
. few years ago and ran with them. They didn’tjust talk the talk, as
so often happens. They walked the walk. l . ,
. Matt Dillon has taken a lead position for years now with the Pry-
or Mountain Wild Mustang Association, working closely with those
who have labored for decades to preserve and interpret our spe-
cial Pryor Mountain mustangs.
There are many other young leaders in various positions in our
towns, and while it’s tempting to list even more names, the list
would surely be incomplete and get us in hot water. Suffice it to
say, positions in churches, clubs, organizations, education, govern-
ment, business and in a variety of other areas are being filled with
young men and women with drive and dedication, especially if they
perceive that their efforts will bear fniit.
Having young leadership emerge in a community is critical to
the health of said community. Studies show that so-called “Millen-
nials” are becoming more involved in their communities, especial-
ly with causes they believe in, rather than simplyjoining clubs and
organizations, whereas other recent generations seemed to look
inward to their own interests rather than caring about the commu-
nity at large. We’re seeing that involvement right here in north Big
Horn County, at least among some of our young go-getters.
We’re glad to see young leaders brimming with energy and
ideas working hand in hand with the experienced hands as we
look to the future and build a fonNard-thinking community in Lovell,
Byron, Cowley, Deaver and Frannie.
— David Peck
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tastiest-:30 in
, «transcripts:
www.Love||Chronicle.com
CHRONICLE
You MEAN,
THERE ARE CRAZY
PEOPLE WHOTRYTO
HURTTRICK-OR-
TREATERS?
Letter to the Editor
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I THOUGHT WE
WERE SPOZED TO
BETHE SCARY
Who really owns Lovell’s sign?
Dear Editor,
Does the electronic sign at
the Lovell Community Center re-
ally belong to the town, or does it
belong to all residents and busi-
nesses in the town of Lovell?
In the report of the town’s
Oct. 13 council meeting in the
Lovell Chronicle it was stated
that the Town of Lovell paid for
the sign. Next question: where
did the town get the money to pay
for the sign? '
The town does not manufac-
ture anything, it does not produce
any product, it does not sell any-
thing. Any money the town has
comes from residents’ and busi-
nesses’property taxes, sales tax-
es and grants, state or federal. In
other words, it is 0PM (other peo-
ple’s money) and to my nonpoliti-
cally correct mind the sign should
belong to all the residents and
businesses who actually provided
the funds to buy the sign.
State law prevents the use
of town property for private gain
and the town cannot provide
gifts or donations, which pre-
vents businesses from advertis-
ing on the sign. However, recent
events called community-orient-
ed events were advertised on the
sign and products were sold and
money changed hands for private
gain, and it is possible some per-
sons participating in each event
did not even live in the town of
Lovell.
Every business in Lovell is
community oriented and benefits
not only the town but the county
and state, as well. Businesses pay
property taxes, collect sales tax-
es and provide jobs for town res-
idents. What could be more com-
munity oriented than that?
At the recently held eco-
nomic meeting town growth was
stressed, so what better way to
promote growth than advertising
businesses to tourists and trav-
elers? Lovell residents already
know what is here and where it
is located.
The town council is not the
owner of town monies but only the
administrator of the funds. They
still work for all the businesses
and residents of the town. While
towns, counties and the state all
preach for economic growth they
enact laws that restrict econom-
ic growth and these type of laws
should be amended or repealed.
To some, my nonpolitically
correct thinking of resident own-
ership, not government owner-
ship, may not succeed in a court
of law. It may entice like-minded
residents and business owners to
call for our state representative
residing in Lovell to introduce
legislation to amend or repeal
laws such as these so communi-
ties can grow and prosper.
Jim Szlemko
Government is an amusing body of people
Like me, I’m sure all of you are tuned
in to the national debate of those people
who are seeking the US. presidency. And,
like you, I have my personal favorites.
Some of the people I work with are
hardcore conservatives and they love to
share all kinds of tidbits from conserva-
tive think tanks, radio commentators and
conspiracy theorists. Some I agree with;
some are just amusing.
While it is time for a dramatic change
at the highest levels of government, there
is nothing more intriguing to me than the
actions of the local governments in Byron
and Lovell. In fact, every Friday morn-
ing at an editorial meeting, some people I work with
want an update on the Lovell police chief, and the
Byron Town Council.
I guess I’m not the only person that enjoys a
good fight at city hall.
When the new mayor was seated in Lovell, I
found it incredible that one of his first actions was to
fire the chief of police. Who does something like this?
My first thoughts were a personal vendetta. Nothing
against the new police chief, but firing someone who
has been on the job 24/7 for several years and has an
investment in the community seems to me like the
mayor has a little too much power.
I sure would be interested to see Nick Lewis run
for mayor of Lovell at the next election.
As a kid growing up in Byron, I don’t remem-
ber much about the city government. Honestly, I
couldn’t even tell you who the mayor was at that
time. That is not the case today. Byron seems to
them.
The Lovell Chronicle welcomes letters from
its readers and will make every effort to print
Letters longer than words may not be
printed. Letters must be signed and include
the address and telephone number of the writ-
er. Unsigned letters will be discarded. Writers
Ralph C. Jensen
Guest column
have the same structure as Lovell. If the
mayor wants, or doesn’t want something,
in this case, she does it her way.
When I recently read that the entire
Recreation Department staff was fired in
Byron, I thought, who fires a group of vol-
unteers? I have enjoyed reading about the
Byron town council taking matters into
their own hands to limit the reach of the
mayor. And by the same token, the ap-
parent meetings between the mayor and
city attorney that no one knew anything
about, or that council members were not
privy to.
Seems like it all comes down to this.
The mayors in both communities have wrested all
the power and decision making abilities from each
respective community and each local council.
In my earlier career, I reported on a lot of city
council meetings and school board meetings, and
transparency is the only way government should be
able to function. We don’t seem much transparency
in Washington, DC, and maybe not in Cheyenne,
either, but at the city level, it is crucial. I keep think-
ing there should be a recall election for both mayors.
Now, let’s talk about some very interesting news
in the North Big Horn Basin. I lifted this item from
the most recent issue of the Lovell Chronicle.
are limited to two letters in any 30 day peri-
od.All letters must conform to the law of li-
bel and be in good taste. They may be mailed
to The Lovell Chronicle, Box 787, Lovell, WY
or delivered to our office at 234 E.
Main St., Lovell. strict p.m. Tuesday
deadline will be enforced.
- Police investigated a report of suspicious persons
near a residence but were unable to locate the individu-
als. A resident reported a sick-looking squirrel in his yard.
Police were unable to locate the squirrel.
Ralph C. Jensen is the editovr-in-chief of Security
Products magazine.