61 The Lovell Chronicle I December 24, 2009 www.LovellChronicle.com
ITIE GRAY PHOTOS
Father Elf Derek Phelps (left) reacts after being told he has
to make 5,000 more toys as elf Marie Cruz looks on during
the Lovell Middle School Christmas play "Nanny Claus: the
North Pole Nanny" staged Dec. 14 at LMS.
Rambunctious children of Father and Mother Elf get into
a pillow fight during the Lovell Middle School Christmas
drama production "Nanny Claus" on Dec. 14 at the middle
school. Pictured are (l-r) Ashlee McIntosh, Michaela Werner
and Eston Croft.
Longtime county treasurer remembered
BY KARLA POMEROY
Longtime Big Horn Coun-
ty Treasurer George Hoffman
died Friday at the age of 91 and
commissioners who worked with
Hoffman during his 32 years as
treasurer remember him as an
intelligent but quiet individual.
Hoffman served Big Horn
County for more than three de-
cades. He began work with the
county as the deputy treasurer,
serving under June Lamont. In
1963 he was elected to his first
term as County Treasurer, serv-
ing until his retirement in 1994.
Current treasurer and Hoffman's
cousin, Becky Lindsey, said Hoff-
man began work with the coun-
ty after serving four years in the
Army from 1942-46. "We (the fam-
ily) can't remember him working
anywhere else," she said.
Former Big Horn County
Commissioner Charlie Monk
said, "With the passing of George,
Big Horn County. has lost one of
its most dedicated supporters.
He always had Big Horn County
foremost in his mind and what
was best for the county."
Former Big Horn Coun-
ty Commissioner Don Rus-
sell worked with Hoffman for
16 years. "George loved it (be-
ing county treasurer). It was his
life. He just really enjoyed being
county treasurer."
The love of his work showed
in the quality of his work, Rus-
sell said. "George did an excellent
job of keeping records. He always
knew where everything was. We
would ask him something and
he would say 'just a second, let
me look that up.' He would come
back with a scrap of paper. I nev-
er knew what the scrap of paper
was for because he would just
rattle it off from memory.
"He was a first-class treasur-
George Hoffman
er," Russell said.
Current State Senator Ray
Peterson worked with Hoffman
for two years while he served as
commissioner in the 1990s. "He
was great to work with. He was
very knowledgeable about the
county funds and quick with the
figures. We always listened to
what he said. You don't ignore
that kind of experience."
Peterson said George was one
of the icons in the county offices,
just as the late County Clerk El-
len Cowan Whipps was.
Lindsey worked with Hoff-
man for 13 years as a deputy
county treasurer. "I learned a lot
from George." She said one of the
things she learned was that em-
ployees earn their vacation time
and deserve to take that vacation
time.
Hoffman, she said, was dedi-
cated to his job and expected oth-
ers to work all the time as well.
However, as dedicated as he was,
she said often times he would be
at the courthouse after hours,
watching TV in the commission-
ers room because he did not have
a TV at home.
After his retirement, his fam-
ily did get him a TV and later a
VCR, Lindsey said.
Lindsey said a lot of people
knew George was sharp working'
with figures and frugal with the'
county's money but personally he
was a kind and generous man.
She said there were times when'
he would help a resident pay the;
county taxes the resident owed..
One time, she said, he helped.
pay a person's vehicle registra-.
tion and then bought gas for the:
vehicle.
When Hoffman decided to:
retire, he was asked who would
be his likely replacement. His re-
sponse, %Vell, Becky, of course.'
"I wasn't aware of it at the time,":
Lindsey said.
Hoffman continued to come
to the courthouse after his retire-
ment to help out when needed
but eventually, Lindsey said she
had to tell him it was time to re-
ally retire and leave the court-
house behind.
George was born on Oct. 11,
1918, in Stuart, Neb., to Alice
and Garhart Hoffman. His moth -
er passed away when he was an
infant and he was then raised
by the Spencer family in Basin.
He is a 1937 graduate of Basin
High School and a 1942 graduate
of the University of Wyoming,
earning a bachelor's degree in ac-
counting.
Along with serving his coun-
ty, Hoffman served his country as
well, in the Army and Air Force
Reserves.
Funeral services for Mr. Hoff-
man were Tuesday at the Basin
United Methodist Church. Me-
morials may be sent to Security
State Bank, P.O. Box 531, Ba-:
sin, WY 82410 to benefit the Big,
Horn County Library and the Ba-!
sin Fire Department.
Stray dogs and cat
BY BRAD DEVEREAUX
Since the Town of
Lovell built the Lovell Ani-
mal Shelter nearly a decade
ago, it never seemed quite
right. The facility was fine
in the summer, if maybe
ter are finally getting the
warmth they deserve.
COLD IN HERE
A few animal advocates
contacted the Lovell Chron-
icle recently because they
were concerned about the
little cramped at times, bDndition of the
it was a little cold in the
winter.
The facility is equipped
with a gas heating system
that circulates heated liquid
through the cement floor.
But for the past six years or
so, the heat was only work-
ing at partial capacity, ac-
cording to town officials.
"There have been a lot
of different animal control
officers over the years and
they must not have real-
ized it was staying cool,"
animal control officer Phil
Angell said. "A lot of times,
there aren't any animals in
there."
The town's animal con-
trol officer is in charge of
the animal shelter. While
there have been a number
of ACOs over the years, An-
gell has held the position
for the past three years.
He said the shelter has
been equipped with extra
heaters for years to supple-
ment the weak heating sys-
tem. The heaters usually
kept the shelter at a com-
fortable level, and tempera-
tures never dropped to lev-
els that were dangerous to
animals, he said, guessing
40 degrees was the lowest it
reached during the winter
months.
But the heat wouldn't
kick on much at all during
the late summer and early
fall this year, Angell said.
Angell and town adminis-
trator Bart Grant found the
manufacturer of the heat-
ing system, and the compa-
ny referred him to a techni-
cian in Billings that could
fix the system. Eventually
the town council approved
a motion to fix the heating
system. Cost of the project
was not available at press
time.
Angell said the heat
technician discovered the
system was "hooked up
backwards," and only heat-
ing at a fraction of its poten-
tial.
After the repair was
completed in December,
with some ongoing fine-tun-
ing, the heat is kept at 70
degrees easily without any
supplemental heaters, An-
gell said. And with heated
liquid coursing through the
hard floor, the dogs and cats
that wind up at the shel-
shelter's
heating system.
Kathy McDonald of
Three Dog Shelter in Cody
said she has dealt with the
Lovell shelter for the past
five years, helping find fam-
ilies to adopt ownerless an-
imals at the Lovell shelter.
She said she would always
meet Angell at the Lovell
Annex, but when she was
invited to meet him at the
shelter in early Novem-
ber, she noticed the heat-
ing issues. She expressed
her concern to Angell, who
agreed the problem needed
to be remedied, and went
to the town about the is-
sue.
Now the shelter is be-
ing adequately heated, An-
gell said.
The Lovell facility was
chilly but probably not dan-
gerous to most dogs, the ex-
perts agree, but 60 degrees
is ideal. Large dogs with
thick coats are better suited
to handle 40 degree temper-
atures, but for small dogs,
like the Chihuahua cur-
rently curled up in a cage
at the shelter, 40 degrees
is cold. Angell said he al-
ways made certain the tem-
peratures were not harmful
to the animals, also keep-
ing the heat on to keep the
plumbing from freezing.
Lovell veterinarian
Jane Undem helps out at
the shelter when euthaniza-
tion is required for animals
not picked up after a peri-
od of time. She said she no-
ticed the heating problem at
the facility, but said it was
never so cold that it would
harm the animals, and it
seemed Angell was working
with the town to remedy
the problem. Though there
was no bedding at the shel-
ter, Undem said she noticed
that smaller dogs were kept
off the floor in kennels to
help keep them warm.
"Animals need some
heat," she said. "For a dog
that is used to being kept
outside, 40 is pretty comfy.
For little bitty dogs it might
not feel so good: It depends
on the animal and where it
comes from. Sixty degrees
or warmer would be ideal."
Undem added that she
thinks Angell genuinely
cares about the welfare of
the dogs and cats at the
have heat again
shelter, and other animals essary, and adequate pro-
in the area. Angell said he tection from the elements,
is not alone, and thanked suitable for the age, species
everyone who continues to and condition of the animal.
donate animal food and oth- Companion animals (aka
er supplies to the shelter, pets) would require ade-
: McDonald said the fa- quate space ncessa:0
cility is otherwise in good
shape, though it would be
nice if it had an outdoor
area for dogs to run. Angell
agreed that a dog run would
be a nice addition, but cur-
rently funds are not avail-
able for the project.
McDonald said a bro-
ken heating system is just
one of many ways that an-
imals can be mistreated,
and a bill being presented
to the Senate at the upcom-
ing Wyoming Legislature, if
passed, would create a law
that would require shelters
and Wyoming residents to
meet minimum care stan-
dards for animals in their
possession.
The bill defines mini-
mum care to include food of
sufficient quality and quan-
tity, access to potable water
of a drinkable temperature,
veterinary care when nec-
house with straw or bed-
ding, they're usually fine,"
Angell said, adding that
they should also have plen-
ty of food and water avail-
able. "Dogs without a heavy
ities if passed.
The Lovell shelter is.
bound by state statute tol
euthanize any animal that:
is there for longer than sixi
days, but Angell said he of-:
coat can't take it. It would .tea:Imshcs: that de.adlinel
exercise, suitable air' tern- be like you or I walking on as far a's' hecan becaUse het
peratUre, adequate ventila: ice with our bare hands, d )esn't like:putting the an' I
Those pads just aren't that
thick."
McDonald agreed that
there is a lack of laws that
allow law enforcement to
take much action against
pet owners who keep their
furry friends outside in the
cold, or without quality
food or plenty of water.
Another bill that was
passed over in the previous
session that could make
reappearance at the 2010
session is SF 133, the Pet
Animal Care and Facilities
Act. This bill would estab-
lish more regulations, pen-
alties and facility checks
for shelters and other facil-
tion, regular diurnal (daily)
lighting cycles (natural or
artificial) and an area kept
clean from excess waste or
other contaminants. These
new regulations could force
change at the Lovell Ani-
mal Shelter and other shel-
ters across Wyoming.
Angell said, though he
hadn't reviewed the pro-
posed bill yet, he would be
in favor of a new law that
gives law enforcement the
authority to intervene in
cases of animal mistreat-
ment, because now there
isn't much he can do in
some cases if an owner
chooses to leave their pet
outside in less-than-ideal
situations,
"A lot of bigger dogs
have a heavy coat, and if
they have a kennel or dog-
BHC School District No. I Board, 2nd Thursday.
BHC School District No. 2 Board (Lovell), 2nd Monday, board room,
7p.m.
BHC Treasurer at County Annex, 1st and 3rd Thursday each month,
9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Big Horn Basin chapter of Gold Prospectors Association of America,
Skyline Care in Powell, 2rid Tuesday, 7 p.m., 754-5921.
Big Horn County 4-H Leader's Council, 1st Monday, Extension Office
on Hwy 310, 7 p.m.
Big Horn County Weed and Pest monthly board meeting, 2rid Tuesday,
1 p.m., W&P office at 4782 Hwy. 310, Greybull.
Byron Lions Club, 1st and 3rd Tuesday, Byron Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Cancer Support Group, 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m., NHCC multi-purpose
room.
Compassionate Friends Support Group, last Wednesday, Long Term
Care Center Conference Room, West Park Hospital, 7 p.m. Contact
Melodye Trusty, 578-2416.
Cowley Riding Club, 3rdMonday, 7 p.m.
Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting, 3rd
Monday, noon, Lange's Kitchen
Lovell Bulldog Booster Club, 3rd Wednesday, Big Horn Federal Hos-
pitality Room, 7 pm.
Lovell Guitar Club, Thursday, 8 pm. Call Steve, 548-7227.
Lovell Library Story Time, every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
Lovell Lions Club, 2ndFrlday, noon; 4th Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., 548-
2431.
Lovell Riders, Inc. meeting, 2nd Thursday, Fire Hall, 7 p.m.
Lovell Town Council, 2nd Tuesday, Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Lovell Woman's Club, 2nd Wednesday, Big Horn Federal Hospitality
Room, 1 p.m. Contact Deanna Wagner, 548-7793.
NAMI Big Horn County, 1st Thursday, 548-2431, 548-6865.
North Big Ham County Health Coalition, 3rd Tuesday, noon, rotating
locations, 548-6410.
Ostomy Support Group meeting, 2nd Tuesday, 7 p.m., North Fork
room, West Park Hospital in Cody.
Plndroppers Quilt Club, 4th Thursday, 7 p.m., Big Horn Federal hos-
pitality room.
Spokes-noFolks, call 548-2431; 548-2883.
TOPS @ VVY169, every Thursday, St. John's Episcopal Church base-
ment in Powell, 6 p.m. 754-2652, 664-2394
Tri-Mountaln View Masonic Lodge, 2nd Thursday, dinner 6:30 p.m.,
lodge meeting 7:30 p.m.
VFW Meeting, 4th Thursday, 7 p.m., Big Horn County Annex bldg,
Lovell.
Veterans Representative, 1st Wednesday, Powell Workforce Center,
Sponsored by
FDIC;E'sured
Big Horn
Federal (
Greybul Powen, Theopolis, Cody, Worhmd, Lovell
imals to death. He is con-
stantly looking for new av-:
enues to find the misplaced!
animals homes, and said:
anyone interested in adopt-!
ing a new pet should call the,
Lovell Police Department:.
at 548-2215. Currently twol
mixed-breed dogs and onel
cat are available.
The best way to keep
family pet at home and out',
of the shelters is to keep it,'
outfitted with vet tags, and
register it with the town, I
Angell said. Owners can
also install a microchip be-
neath their pet's skin that
stores information about
the pet's owners.
MINCHOW'S FOOD COURT
353 E. Main. Lovell • 548-7979
OPEN 11 am - 9 pm Mon.-Thurs.. Fri. & Sat. 11 am - 10 pm • Sunday 11 am - 8 pm
---- 100% Beef Burgers
T: 1 lCe-tm & Fries
SUBS&SALADS
RED EAGLE FOOD STORES 1:)
QUAUTY EON SERV Ce :i!: .... ::' ..............
GAS FOR LESS ..... ......
Weat o, ,ave,
NORTH BIG HORN SENIOR CENTER
757 Great Western Ave. • Lovell qll
M-F, 12 NOON TO 1:00 PM. No reservations required
60 + just $2.50 Non Seniors $4.75
We have all you need for a / .
hot meal or picnic! @ecJ ld
Featuring ChesterFried and
WondeRoast Chicken'.
Open: 8 am. 8 pm Mon.-Sat. • 9 am - 6 pm Sunday ' 9 E. Main • Lovell
Enjoy Delicious, Appetizing Meals
CAUC-A$1AN DINER
Carl 548-2781 to take out or cater your events or parties!
ASIAN COMBOS Fr. $4.99 AMERICAN CLASSIC COMBOS
Served w/rice & pansil noodles + Sirloin Steaks 8.99 - Bacon & Eggs 3.99
Beef-Chicken-Pork-Shrimp entrees Burgers, Salads, Kids Meals, etc.
9 am - noon; 2rid Thursday
Frannie Town Hall, 9 am - noon
& Lovell Police Dept. 1 - 4 pm;
3rd Friday, Greybull Town
Hall, 9:30 - 1:30 am & Worland
Workforce Center 12:30 - 2:30
pm.
WyDOT Driver Licensing Facil-
ity open in Lovell every Tues-
day, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Carl the Lovefl Chronicle at 548-
2217 to list your club here.
