Around the 307
News, commentary, and other items of interest from the greater Wyoming landscape.
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Here are just a few items of interest from around the Cowboy State for the week of May 26th, 2024:
Last Sunday, May 26th Eatons’ Ranch (in Wolf, Wyoming) made its historic horse drive through downtown Sheridan. You can read this short article about the event that has been taking place annually since the 1930s. Thanks to photographer Steve Bourne for the below image and check out more of Steve’s photos from this year’s horse drive here on his Facebook post.
Thursday, May 30th, Yellowstone National Park issued this press release with an update on the status of the Beartooth Highway (US 212 from Cooke City to Red Lodge Montana). You may recall the Around the 307 article from last week about the wild spring snowstorm that dumped some six feet of snow across the area! YNP now projects US 212 will finally open today, June 1st (it was originally scheduled to open on May 24th for the Memorial Day weekend).
Friday, May 31st, the Bridger Teton National Forest implemented an emergency closure of the Periodic Spring drainage in Swift Creek Canyon near Afton, Wyoming due to a rock slide. The slide has temporarily blocked the mouth of the Periodic Spring and is creating an abnormal pressure situation. Read the BTNF press release here and also a follow-up article about the evolving situation published in the Star Valley Independent.
I also have to pass along this news story, published in Cowboy State Daily on Friday May 31st, covering the grassroots effort that has resulted in some 45,000 signatures being gathered and turned in to the Secretary of State’s office this week. The signatures support a ballot initiative that (if successful) would cut residential property taxes by 50%! While the initiative likely won’t make it to the ballot until 2026, should all the signatures be verified, it will become the first initiative to qualify to be on a Wyoming ballot since 1996. Sounds like good news to me on the property tax front for a change!
Lastly—here are a some Wyoming historical events (some well known, others obscure) that occurred during the month of May.
May 20th, 1832—Fur trapper Zenas Leonard and party return to the North Platte after wintering on the Laramie Plains.
May 18th, 1887—Cornerstone laid for for the Wyoming State Capitol.
May 15th, 1930—Ellen Church, trained in Cheyenne, becomes the world’s first female flight attendant.
That’s all for today ladies and gents! Thanks for reading and have a great week!
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Thank you for passing on the local info each week.