CHRONICLE
December 27, 2012 (The Lovell Chronicle I 3
• Byron news
BY PAMELA COZZENS
HOPKINSON
548-2471
pamhopkinson@gmail.com
What more could one
ask for than a gather-
ing of friends with Santa
and rides on miniature po-
nies? Our Christmas par-
ty Thursday evening be-
gan with a siren through
town as Santa arrived via
fire truck. Some may ask
why a fire truck? Some say
it sprouted from childhood
memories of bundling up to
watch Santa arrive by this
mode of transportation on
Main Street in Lovell. That
was back in the day (as my
kids would say).
It is now a tradition in
our little town, this being
the first year of many more
Santa arrivals. Many fam-
ilies gathered in front of
the lit tree in the center of
town to welcome Santa. Af-
ter a Main Street ride with
sirens blaring, he stepped
off the fire truck and made
a beeline for the front door
of the former school fol-
lowed by all of the children
running, clapping and hop-
ing to be first in line. San-
ta gave every child a home-
made popcorn ball, and each
child had pictures taken as
they visited with the patient
and jolly old elf.
Miniature ponies were
at the other end of the caf-
eteria saddled up ready for
their journey carrying ex-
cited children on a joy ride.
The miniature donkey was
a favorite. Carl Jones also
gave mule powered wagon
rides.
Those brave enough to
be in the cold 'b'u:ndled un-
der fur blankets enjoyed an
old-fashioned ride around
town to look at the beauti-
ful Christmas light displays.
Back inside there was a gin-
gerbread man cookie dec-
orating booth manned
by Simmone and Sienna
Rausch. The children art-
fully decorated cookies, the-
oretically to take home for
Santa, but most were eaten
on the spot.
Another favorite area
was the Grinch station.
Summer Lofgran and her
daughter Sadie operated
this area, and the children
loved the idea of being blind-
folded, flapping their arms,
spinning around and taking
three steps to pin a heart on
DAVID PECK
Lauryn Marchant, age 5, and Charlotte Bair, 4, ride a miniature horse and
donkey in the former Byron school cafeteria during the Byron Community
Christmas Party last Thursday night, Dec. 20. People thronged the school
building to meet Santa Claus, take in a hay ride, ride ponies and enjoy lots of
goodies.
the Grinch. Before the party
was over, that Grinch was
overflowing with love.
The Gingerbread hous-
es that were entered in the
contest were on display and
each entry was awarded
a cash prize, thanks to the
Byron Recreation Dept. A
group entry included leaders
Summer Lofgran and An-
gela Butler along with Jea
Nayha Gruell, Cole Lofgran,
Sadie Lofgran, Marianece
Nuttal, Kaylyn Nuttal and
Grace Wassmer and single
entries decorated by Lexi
Sanders and her daughters
Atley, Colette and Patty and
Simmone Rausch and her
daughter Sienna were all
in the competition. The over
all winner was Angela But-
ler. Thank you judges Pat
Damon, Jeanie Petrich and
Dotty White.
Hot Chocolate flowed
freely and a table laden with
a wonderful variety of cook-
ies and breads as well as na-
chos and a popcorn machine
popping fresh munchies de-
lighted the crowd. It was a
night to remember.
It really does take a vil-
lage to throw a great com-
munity party. Many thanks
go out to those mentioned
above, as well as the fire
department. Thanks for
remembering and seeing
the vision Trendsetters,
The Lightening Station,
Charles and Amy Hessen-
thaler, Jack and Sydney
Hessenthaler, Hopkinson
Studio and Postern Capi-
tal, who provided fund-
ing for decorations and re-
freshments. Thank you
Chuck and Cheryl Brightly,
who were in charge of San-
ta pictures and the many
who. helped with set up and
take down, including Bran-
don and David Hessenthal-
er, Mitchell Lofgran, Bert
Sullivan, Glen Hopkinson,
Adam Huish, Curt Abra-
ham, Jeff Noall and Riley
Abraham and the popcorn
ball crew, Rosie Betan-
court, Nora Sullivan, Dotty
White and myself (slaving
over the stove making the
caramel and enjoying every
minute).
Thank you to Mayor
Marie McCollam for con-
tributions to the food table
and volunteering to be the
pony pooper-scooper (good
sport) and to the Carl Jones
personal crew who actually
did do the scooping. We ap-
preciate Dave Peck from the
Chronicle arriving to docu-
ment the event in pictures.
And last, but definite-
ly not least, a most gra-
cious and sincere thank you
to the Honorable Mr. San-
ta, who has a special invi-
tation to attend our event
next year. Perhaps Mrs.
Santa and a few favorite
elves could come along in
2013. May your dreams be
merry and bright. Merry
Christmas.
Nationally renowned cowboy storyteller
Waddie Mitchell comes to Powell Jan. 24
Cowboy storyteller Waddie Mitchell is
coming to town in January, and tickets are
available now.
The nationally acclaimed cowboy sto-
ryteller and poet will perform at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 24, in the Nelson Perform-
ing Arts Center Auditorium.
His appearance is the entertain-
ment portion of the Jan. 24 and 25 Spring
Roundup 2013, a risk management and
business-focused conference for agricul-
ture producers.
Mitchell performed at the 2002 Olym-
pics and Super Bowl game. He's appeared
on every television network and been fea-
tured in a National Geographic video. He's
recorded with Warner Brothers and the
Western Jubilee Recording Company.
In 1985, he founded the National Cow-
boy Poetry Festival in Elko, Nev. Not long
after that, he appeared on Johnny Car-
son's Tonight Show.
Last year, Mitchell received the Na-
tional Storytelling Network's Circle of Ex-
cellence Award, and this year he was pre-
sented the Nevada Arts Council's Heritage
Award.
Tickets to Mitchell's Jan. 24 perfor-
mance in Powell are $20 apiece. Those
who purchase a Spring Roundup regis-
tration and two Waddie Mitchell tick-
ets by Dec. 31 pay only $75 for the whole
package.
Tickets can be reserved online at http://
www.northwestcollege.edu/roundup or by
calling Stacy Gilman at 307-754-6062.
They're also available in Cody at the
Irma and the Cody Country Chamber of
Commerce, and in Powell at Dan's Boot
and Saddle and at the Northwest College
Waddie Mitchell
Bookstore.
Tickets will be sold at the door, how-
ever, advance reservations are recom-
mended because of limited seating.
Mitchell isn't the only one with name
recognition at the Spring Roundup 2013.
The two-day conference boasts a lineup of
names familiar to those in the agriculture
industry.
More information is available at http://
www.northwestcollege.edu/roundup.
Judges
needed for
Jan. 4 and
5 forensics
tournament
More than 300 stu-
dents from nearly 15
schools will be debating,
persuading and enter-
taining their audiences
at the 42nd Annual Trap-
per Rendezvous Forensics
Tournament for Wyoming
high schools Friday and
Saturday, Jan. 4 and 5, at
Northwest College.
Because the tourna-
ment is so large, 50 judges
are needed every round to
score all the events, which
include humorous, poetry,
dramatic and duet inter-
pretation, extemporane-
ous speaking, oratory and
three forms of debate.
To help people feel
more comfortable with
judging, the NWC Fo-
rensics Department will
hold 45-minute judging
workshops on Wednes-
day, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m. in
Room 118 of the Oren-
dorff Building.
To find out more about
judging forensics, contact
Becker at 307-754-6118
or Robert.Becker@north-
westcollege.edu.
Cowley news
The story continues about the
Olsons visit to Cowley
BY DRUE TEBBS-MEEI( '
548-6901
A few weeks ago I began writing about Carl and
Amanda Olson, who came to town in 1929 because Carl
was traveling to the oil fields to find work during the De-
pression and their truck broke down and Carl had to stay
in Cowley for three days. Last week I left off with the
arrival of Amanda Olson and the children, who traveled
from Montana to join Carl Olson and to begin a new life
in Cowley.
The day after their arrival they took their few belong-
ings and the Smith family loaned them a few dishes and
they moved into Orson Frost's "labor dobby house," which
had two rooms, a cook stove, table, chairs, two bunk beds,
one bed, one small oil lamp and two blankets. They had to
sleep with their coats on as covering.
Amanda had to v ash the boys' clothes Saturday eve-
ning after they went to bed, and the boys stayed in bed
until the clothes dried. These conditions lasted about one
month, then her older children started school Nov. 11 and
that left her alone with the twins. Her daughter Dagney
was a freshman in high school and met new friends very
fast. Mrs. Olson said she walked the floor and wished she
had never come to such a place.
Mrs. Rebecca Taggart Frost came to the house and
brought the family some canned vegetables and apples,
and she told Mrs. Olson that she would talk to her broth-
er-in-law about the family moving into his five-room farm
house that was only one mile from Cowley. Carl Olson
had walked to Lovell many times to look for a house for
them to rent and was unable to find a home or another
job.
One day a man called to Carl as he was walking back
home and introduced himself as Bishop Marchant of the
LDS Church and the bishop told Carl that because of the
Depression there was little chance for steady jobs. Bishop
Marchant offered the church's aid and Carl asked if the
church could help get his storage out as they couldn't pay
and were in danger of losing their furniture and other be-
longings. Bishop Marchant told Carl to meet him in town
the next day and he would have the money and a truck
to help him move it to this Hinckley place one mile from
Cowley.
That was on Dec. 12. The twins were two-years old
and it was their birthday. Mrs. Olson was so happy to
have her sewing machine, her organ, clothes, bedding and
all their belongings. They had a five-room house that had
a stove, table and chairs and they were indeed a grateful
family again.
Next week the wrap:up of the Olsons' time in Cowley
and Lovell will be addre 'se :"
Zeller graduates from BYU-Idaho
Kent R. Zeller, of Lovell, graduated from Brigham
Young University Idaho on Dec. 14, 2012 with a Bache-
lor's degree in communications and a minor in industrial
organizational psychology. His emphasis in communica-
tions was conflict management. He is the son of Gene and
Virginia Zeller of Lovell.
Winland graduates from
Chadron State College
Patrick Winland of Cowley graduated from Chadron
State College during commencement exercises held on
Friday, Dec. 14.
Winland was awarded a master of education degree.
CSC conferred degrees to 181 graduates during two com-
mencement ceremonies.
The commencement speakers were Dr. George
Griffith, CSC professor of English and humanities, and
Dr. Ron Hull, senior adviser to Nebraska Educational
Telecommunications and professor emeritus of broadcast-
ing for the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Please submit wedding and engagement announcements to us via
emaih Ic_news@tctwest.net; fax:307-548-2218;
or send to our office at 234 E. Main St., Lovell, Wyoming 82431
