Around the 307
News, commentary, and other items of interest from the greater Wyoming landscape.
A few news items of interest from around the Cowboy State during the past week of October 22nd, 2023:
In eastern Wyoming just outside the town of Lingle on Highway 26 you’ll find Ellis’ Harvest Home and the most amazing corn maze I’ve ever seen! This giant labyrinth on 8-acres is the largest in Wyoming. Each year the corn maze design changes; this year a sun with the phrase “It’s Always Sunny on the Farm” are featured. Ellis’ Harvest Home also has lots more to offer this fall season including a smaller hay maze, petting zoo, food, and much, much more. And, in case you were wondering there’s also a pumpkin patch. Read more about Ellis’ Harvest Home here or check out their website.
An aerial look at this season’s corn maze at Ellis' Harvest Home. (Photo courtesy of Ellis' Harvest Home.) Those of us who live in Star Valley are fortunate to have Lower Valley Energy as our local electricity provider. A large portion of Wyoming residents, however, get their electricity from Rocky Mountain Power and are now facing a 30% rate increase—yikes! There have been a lot of news stories on this topic over the past few months with just as many reasons postulated as to the rationale for the large rate hike. Some theories purport the increase is being driven by the costs of renewable energy sources in other states while others pull no punches and assert the hike is just plain old-fashioned punishment levied on the state of Wyoming due to its large fossil-fuel industry and heavily conservative-leaning populous. The Wyoming Public Service Commission (WPSC) began hearings today (October 27th) to review the proposed rate hike. You can read more on the first day of WPSC hearings at this link.
A map of the Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) service area. RMP is the largest public utility provider in Wyoming. Lastly, another nugget in the run-up to Halloween. Tomorrow, October 28th at 2:24pm MST, the full Hunter’s Moon will grace the afternoon sky at full illumination. This full moon will actually rise about the same time for the next several days and traditionally has provided extended illumination for harvesting and hunting. The Farmer’s Almanac website has an excellent article if you’d like to read more. Fun fact, the next full moon that will actually occur on Halloween won’t happen until 2039! In the meantime, enjoy these Hunter’s Moon images.
That’s it for now. Have a good weekend ya’ll!
