December 1, 2016 I The Lovell Chronicle I 5
COURTESY PHOTO
A snowplow clears the road on U.S. Highway 14A which was closed for the winter
season this week.
Blowing, drifting,snow forces
winter closure on Highway 14A
Blowing, drifting snow
and poor visibility has
accelerated the annu-
al fall roadway closure of
U.S. 14A between Lovell
and Burgess Junction.
The highway was of-
ficially closed for the sea-
son Tuesday. Last year's
seasonal closure went into
effect Dec. 1.
"It's winter on the Big
Horn Mountains ' said Ja-
son Fleming, Wyoming De-
partment of Transporta-
tion maintenance foreman
in Lovell. "Winter weath-
er and slick roads present
safety concerns for snow-
plow drivers and travel-
ers on this high-mountain
highway."
The annual fall clo-
sure of U.S. 14A is in ef-
fect at milepost 76.04 on
the Lovell side of the Big
Horn Mountains. The sea-
sonal road closure at Bur-
gess Junction is just east
of milepost 98.1.
WyDOT annually clos-
es this 22-mile stretch of
scenic mountain road in
the Big Horn Mountains
of north-central Wyoming
about at the conclusion of
the fall hunting season. It
usually reopens by Memo-
rial Day weekend.
Police Report
BIRTHS
We are interested in printingthe
births of North Big Horn County
babies. Please call and person-
ally report these births by con-
tacting the Chronicle at 307-
548-2217.
The Lovell Police Department received
the following calls for the week of Nov. 21
-27:
Nov. 21: A Lovell resident called for as-
sistance unlocking a vehicle and was in-
formed that the police department no lon-
ger provides this service. The individual
was referred to a local locksmith.
Nov. 22" Police are investigating a report of
a suspicious individual by a resident get-
ting ready to occupy a new rental unit.
Nov. 23: An alleged fraud at a local business
Sheriff's report
Born to Aaron and Hillary
Bassett Bertoch at Sanford
Hospital in Bismarck, N.D.,
on Nov. 17, 2016, a baby boy,
Caleb James Bertoch, weigh-
ing 7 lbs. 5 oz. Grandparents
are Steven and Debbie Bas-
sett and David and Stacey
Bertoch. Great-grandpar-
ents are Karma Allred, Fran
Bassett, Jack Bertoch and
Duane and Lois Bird.
DEEDS
Warranty deeds issued from the
Big Horn County Clerk's office
recently were:
Rodney L. Crosby, trust-
ee, and Josephine M. Cros-
by, trustee, of the Rodney
I~i Crosby and Josephine
• Crosby 2015 Trust dat-
ed May 18, 2015 to Cros-
by Farm Trust, LLC; W2,
S2NE4, N2SE4, NW4NE4
Sec. 05, Lots 2, 3, 4, Sec. 05,
NW4NW4 Sec. 08, Lots 106,
107, T56N R96W; Lot 7, Sec.
30, Lots 3, 5, 6, Sec. 31, T57N
R96W; E2 Sec 36, SE4SE4
Sec. 25, T57N R97W.
Enid J. Bassett, trustee
of the Bassett Family Trust
dated January 29, 1997 to
Enid J. Bassett, trustee, Sue
Anne Bassett, trustee, and
Bradley J. Bassett, trustee,
of the Enid J. Bassett Liv-
ing Trust dated June 3, 2016;
Lots 62, 69, T55N R97W.
Joseph N. Hooper, Dan-
iel S.P. Hooper and Ele-
na R. Hooper to Steven W.
McIntyre and Carmen E.
Horne-Mclntyre; Cowley
2009 Annexation Subdivi-
sion, Lot 4, (Part) NW4NE4
Sec. 32, T57N R96W.
Jenkins Storage, LLC to
Mikel A. Moser, trustee, Di-
anna L. Moser, trustee, of
the Moser Solo 401K Trust
dated March 12, 2014, (Part)
Lot 52, T56N R96W.
Shelley Dodson, act-
ing power of attorney, and
Laurine M. Frost to Shel-
ley M. Dodson, trustee of
the Laurine M. Frost Re-
vocable Trust dated Octo-
ber, 1, 2003; Cowley Orig-
inal Town, Lots 3, 4, Block
39, Lots 3, 4, Block 38, (Part)
Lots 41B, 42A, 42B, 42C,~
(Part) S2NW4, N2SW4 Sec.
13, T56N R96W.
CIRCUIT COURT
Persons fined in the Fifth Ju-
dicial Circuit Court in Big Horn
County before Judge Thomas
Harrington recently were:
Cameron D. Hughes,
Worland, operating vehicle
with improper equipment,
$65.
Alexis Smith, Basin, fail-
ure to take hunter safety
course, $75.
William C. Lelbach,
Greene, N.Y., speeding in a
70 mph zone, $90.
Brianna R. Brumwell,
Cowley, speeding in a 70
mph zone, S90.
BY SAM SMITH
The unemployment
rate in Big Horn County in-
creased slightly from 3.8
percent in September 2016
to 3.9 percent in Octo-
ber. The October rate was
unchanged from October
2015's jobless rate.
According to the Re-
search and Planning Sec-
tion of the Wyoming De-
partment of Workforce
Services, Big Horn Coun-
ty had 220 workers unem-
ployed in October 2016, a
small increase from Sep-
tember 2016 when 219 were
unemployed. The October
numbers were also a slight
increase from last year
when 218 were jobless.
The number of em-
From September to Oc-
tober, most county unem-
ployment rates changed
very little. However, Teton
County's unemployment
rate rose from 2 percent to
3 percent and Park County's
unemployment rate rose
from 3.6 percent to 3.9 per-
cent. Unemployment rates
often increase in October
in some parts of the state as
the summer tourist season
has ended and the winter
season has not yet start-
ed. Falling unemployment
rates were seen in Camp-
bell (down from 6.9 per-
cent to 6.3 percent), Natro-
ployment (not seasonal-
ly adjusted and measured
by place of work) fell from
291,600 in October 2015 to
281,100 in October 2016, a
decrease of 10,500 jobs (or
-3.6 percent; a statistically
significant decrease).
LOCAL JOBS AND PAYROLL
In the first quarter of
2016, Big Horn County had
an average monthly em-
ployment of 4,053 work-
ers, a 3.3 percent decrease
from last year's first quarter
of 4,192.
The 2016 first quarter's
total payroll in Big Horn
County was $39.8 million, a
na (down from 6.6 percent S1.6 million decrease from
to 6.3 percent), Fremontlast year when the payroll
(down from 6.4 percent to was $41.5 million.
6.1 percent), and Converse The average week-
, tober, a small increase From October 2015 2016, a $5 decrease from
from 5,477 in September to October 2016, unem- last year when the weekly
but a large increase from ployment rates rose in 17 wage was $762.
last year when 5,370 were counties, fell in two coun-The Research and Plan-
• employed, ties, and were unchangedning Section of the Wyo7
Big Horn County had in four counties. The larg- ruing Department of Work-
5,712 in the work force in est increases were seen in force Services reported
October 2016, an increase Campbell (up from 3.8 per- that, from first quarter 2015
is under investigation by local police, from September when the cent to 6.3 percent), Con- to first quarter 2016, to-
Nov. 25: A resident reported a cat stuck on county had 5,696 in the verse (up from 3.4 percent tal unemployment insur-
a power transformer near her residence, work force and an increase to 5.3 percent), Natrona (up ance (UI) covered payroll
from last year when 5,588 from 4.8 percent to 6.3per- decreased by $243.5 million
were working or seeking cent), and Weston (up from (-7.6 percent) in the state.
The Rocky Mountain Power Company was
called to assist.
Note: The calls listed above were re-
ceived by the Lovell Police Dept. Persons
arrested are presumed innocent until prov-
en guilty in a court of law and charges
made upon initial arrest may be amended
or dismissed as determined by the County
Attorney.
Annual Christmas pranks return to Cowley
ployed workers in Big Horn (down from 5.6 percent to ly wage in the county was
County was 5,492 in Oc- 5.3 percent)counties. $757 in the first quarter of
work.
The Research and Plan-
ning Section of the Wyo-
ming Department of Work-
force Services reported
that the state's seasonal-
ly adjusted unemployment
rate fell significantly from
5.4 percent (as revised) in
September to 5.1 percent
in October. Wyoming's un-
3.1 percent to 4.6 percent)
counties. Unemployment
rates decreased in Teton
(down from 3.8 percent to 3
percent) and Lincoln (down
from 4.1 percent to 3.6 per-
cent) counties and were
unchanged in Albany (2.8
percent), Big Horn (3.9 per-
cent), Goshen (3 percent),
and Niobrara (2.9 percent)
Employment fell by 9,367
jobs (-3.4 percent), and the
average weekly wage de-
creased by $39 (-4.3 per-
cent). As in previous quar-
ters, the largest job losses
occurred in the mining sec-
tor (including oil and gas;
6,092 jobs or -23 percent).
In terms of dollars, UI
covered payroll represents
employment rate has now counties, approximately 91.5 per-
The Big Horn County Sheriffs Office son, where ornaments are removed fallen for three consecutive Campbe!l and Natro- cent of all wage and sala-
received the following calls for the week from one yard and replaced with items months but remains higher na counties had the high- ry disbursements and 43.8
of Nov. 21 - 28: from another yard. than its October 2015 lev- est unemployment rates in percent of personal in-
Nov. 21" A Cowley resident complained Nov. 25: A Byron resident reported hors- el of 4.3 percent. Season- October (both 6.3 percent), come in the state (U.S. Bu-
that her boyfriend took items with- es and donkeys on her property. The an- ally adjusted employmentThe next highest rates were reau of Economic Analysis,
out permission following an argument, imals were posted on Facebook and the of Wyoming residents in-found in Fremont (6.1 per- 2014). Analysts have noted
The items were returned after a deputy brand inspector was Called for assistance, creased significantly, rising cent), Converse (5.3 per- that "minerals related em-
intervened. • A brief search for two missing, hunters by an estimated 1,813 indi- cent), Sublette (5.3 per- ployment is one of the key
Nov. 23: Deputies received a complaint found the overdue hunters were OK viduals (.6 percent) from cent), and Sweetwater (5.3 predictors of sales and use
about a vehicle driving erratically in the
Frannie area but were unable to locate
the vehicle.
• A new resident in Cowley was alarmed
to find someone in his yard moving
his Christmas decorations. The resi-
dent was assured that this is an annu-
al prank that occurs every holiday sea-
and just returning later than expected. September to October. Wy- percent) counties. Alba-
Note: The calls listed above were re- oming's labor force and ny County posted the low-
ceived by the Big Horn County Sheriff's Of- employment both declinedest unemployment rate (2.8
ce. Persons arrested are presumed inno- from year-ago levels. Label percent), followed by Nio-
cent until proven guilty in a court of law, force fell by 3,602 individ- brara (2.9 percent), Teton
and charges made upon initial arrest may uals (-1.2 percent) and em- (3 percent), and Goshen (3
be amended or dismissed as determined by ployment fell by 5,997 indi- percent) counties.
the County Attorney. viduals (-2.1 percent). Total nonfarm em-
tax revenue" in Wyoming
(CREG, 2010).
Employment rose in
seven counties and fell in
16 counties. Total payroll
increased in eight coun-
ties and decreased in 15
counties.
Course includes how to care for a choking
infant or child, basic first aid, persona/
for the babysitter, injury prevention
care for children (feeding, diaperin
preventing problem behavior, beh(
management, ethics and bab
as a business.
December 29:7:30 AM -
New Horizons Care
Complete handbook,
Students must be at least 11
Cost: s25
Call Nick Lewis at 3(
Renae Miller at 307-548-5295
or for more informationl
Class size limited, REGISTER
Payment due at time of registration i
Sponsored by
rth Big RCorn
1115 Lane 12. Lovell, WY 82431
Big Horn County Long Range Forecast
Thursday
Mostly Cloudy
Preclp Chance: 10%
34/19
Friday
Mostly Sunny
Preclp Chance: 5%
35/19
Saturday
Partly Cloudy
Preclp Chance: 10%
37 / 22
Sunday
Partly Cloudy
Precip Chance: i0%
40 / 22
Monday
Mostly Cloudy
Preclp Chance: 20%
32116
Big Horn
County Forecast
sponsored by
9 East Main, Lovell, Wyoming
