Letters to the Editor

Why I resigned from the Library Board, Part II

Publisher — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Why I resigned from the Library Board, Part II Publisher Sat, 08/15/2026 - 07:00

Dear Editor,

A decade or so ago I heard some troubling things about the way the Board of County Commissioners was handling the Library System during its last budget crisis. I don’t remember what my beef was, but I reacted by passive-aggressively canceling my account with a business owned by one commissioner who was particularly outspoken on the matter. She called my cell and demanded to know why.

Then we talked a while, and “I came away with a different point of view.” Despite what I’m about to say, I still believe she genuinely cares about the Library System, and is doing what she thinks is best to save it.

Over the last 13 months, I spoke with her frequently. She offered advice, ideas and a can-do attitude. She and I agreed that it’s best to “choose grit instead of quit.” She even helped us get a grant that helped save Hanna and Medicine Bow’s branches. We’ve talked (and yelled) for hours and even hugged it out. Her involvement could be frustrating, though. She had a habit of praising me to my face and blaming others (but never herself or the BOCC) for our difficulties. She’d thought the Friends groups should pony up, and the towns needed to put some “skin in the game” if they wanted to keep their libraries. She thought the towns had the money (they don’t). But then she’d blame me and the Library Board behind my back.

In our last conversation, the morning I resigned, we talked about a plan the Board had set forth in our last budget proposal—which was smaller than what we got last year because the BOCC told us it had to be. We figured that with $159k from the BOCC and more than half of what’s left of the System’s rainy-day savings we could keep the core staff that are necessary for the System to work as a system: the director, IT/courier, acquisitions manager, and programming manager positions. All branches rely on these positions, not just Rawlins. We told the BOCC that if they only gave us so much, we would need help from the towns, Friends groups and grants to staff their branches. I still don’t know how the Board plans to pay for front-line staff (the people who check out your books) in Rawlins. On average, front-line staff cost the System about $25 per hour that a given location is open. We had no choice but to ask Friends groups, towns, and grants to fund their branches in fiscal year 26’-27’ to the extent they can afford. But we continued to remind the everyone, especially the BOCC, that fundraising is not a sustainable funding model.

She told me our proposition was wildly unpopular, and most of the towns thought we might as well have shut them down—they were considering quitting the System and running their own municipal libraries like Sinclair. She said several had already approached the State Librarian about joining the WYLD consortium as independent libraries. I’m not going to go into the details, but that’s easier said than done. She said I might as well quit trying and let the towns figure it out—she said Sinclair people are “happy as skunks” with their unstaffed repository of donated books.

But when I talked to these people, they said, basically, “No, that’s her idea, not ours. We don’t want to go it alone.” Then the other day, I saw her do it in black and white. She responded to a Facebook comment from a person who thought all of the locations were going to be open only 5 hours a week. She said:

“This is NOT ACCURATE information. Representatives of the Library Board, without official approval of a budget from the Library Board, asked the County for $159,000, to fund only the main branch in Rawlins.” The branches, she continued, “would have to fundraise on their own for their staffing by securing donations from local funding sources. The amount determined by someone was $25/hour. There is no way these funds can be raised in all the outlying communities, so it was essentially the Library Board closing them without making a formal decision to do so. The County Commission bought into, literally, the $25/hour proposal giving $30,000 for only the outlying libraries to be used for their staffing needs.”

She is also incorrect. The model we proposed is specifically designed to support the branches, not to benefit only Rawlins. What would be the point of keeping all of the admin positions if we really expected the branches to close? We were not closing branches without making a formal decision. We were warning the BOCC of the consequences of their decision to repeatedly tell us to expect even less than we got last year.

Their so called “donation” of $30,000 did not come out of their personal pockets, it came out of their appropriation with strings attached. But they do not have the authority to order the Library Board to spend any amount on any branch other than Rawlins. Besides, 5 hours a week at every branch would actually cost $39k ($45k if you included the Rawlins), but the math isn’t the problem. It’s not the BOCC’s job to craft the System’s budget. Just like it’s not the Library Board’s job to ask why the BOCC’s emergency fund is over $1M and growing, or why they have money for this or that, but their 25% loss of revenue somehow translated to a 53% budget cut to the Library System.

The BOCC’s order that the Library Board use $30k of an historically small appropriation to spend directly on branches means less support for those branches from admin staff that has already been cut back to the bare minimum. For them to give us less than we need and then say, “it’s not us closing branches, it’s the Library Board”.

I know she and the other Commissioners care deeply about libraries. In public they say they think the Library Board can find a way to keep all branches open on a shoestring. But in private, they’ve each given me some version of “funding seven libraries is not sustainable for the County; ‘they’ [County leaders in the 80’s] shouldn’t have built so many libraries in the first place.” I call on the Commissioners, especially the ones up for re-election, to say the quiet part out loud. The Republican Primary is August 18. I might reward Travis Moore and John Johnson for their candor with my vote, but they’re running unopposed, so it doesn’t matter.

Nobody wants libraries to close, not even the book banners. People want to control their libraries because they love them. But nobody wants to take the blame when we have to sacrifice public services people love for public services they need, like an ambulance that can take you 80 miles per hour down a smooth road to a local hospital when you’re having a heart attack.

Instead of pointing fingers, let’s focus on what we can change. Let’s start by voting “Heck NO” to Ballot Initiative #1 (which would reduce property taxes another 50%), and “Heck YES” to renewing the 5th Penny sales tax. Property taxes are why we have local governments, schools, libraries and everything else we take for granted until it’s gone. But even if Wyoming says “no” to Ballot Initiative #1, the Freedom Caucus will try to abolish property taxes in the next session.

Please register and vote. And please encourage people you know around Wyoming to vote for people who care about rural Wyoming, not Freedom Caucus extremists who will cut tax revenue just because. If you’re not sure who’s who, Common Sense Republicans for Wyoming PAC (www.commonsensewyo.com) has a list of candidates worthy of support. Our local slate for state offices (Davis, Thayer, & O’Toole) are not listed there because they are unopposed and not Freedom Caucus. Let’s vote the Freedom Caucus out statewide. And let’s stop bickering, and work together—for our kids’ sake—to keep our libraries open.

Sincerely,

Adelaide Myers, former chair of the Carbon County Library System Board of Directors

Why I Resigned from the Library Board

Publisher — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:10:00 +0000

Why I Resigned from the Library Board Publisher Sat, 08/08/2026 - 19:10

Dear Editor,

WyoGives Day was July 15. It is an annual fundraiser to benefit Wyoming nonprofits and to give donors an easy way to choose causes that match their values. Some participant organizations list donation matches or challenges that continue until they reach a certain goal. Only non-profits are allowed, so the Carbon County Library System could not participate directly, but through a 501(c)(3) sponsor, such as the Carbon County Library Foundation. I asked the Foundation to do so after I was approached by an anonymous donor who wanted to make a $15,000 WyoGives Day match for the System.

The Foundation agreed at first and applied to WyoGives to be part of the event. Unfortunately, the Foundation did not agree to list the $15,000 match unless it could retain control over how the funds could be used by the System due to fear that the funds might be used to cover operating costs. So, I suggested we could use the money instead to fund a public awareness campaign about two critical ballot issues in the coming election, and how those issues would impact the System. The Foundation regarded it as “lobbying” and again declined. It was too late to sign up with a different non-profit sponsor, so per the donor’s wish, the money went to a different charity without a match. The donor was disappointed at the lost opportunity to raise $30,000 for the System, as was I.

All county library foundations in the state are creatures of Wyoming statute, and they have restrictions on how they can use the principal of their endowments established by the 2008 Wyoming Library Endowment Challenge. The principal cannot be used for operating costs. This narrow restriction is reflected in the Foundation’s bylaws. But the bylaws do not restrict how the Foundation can use interest raised by the principal, funds raised before the Endowment Challenge, or funds raised through the Foundation’s ordinary annual fundraising events, like the Color Run and the Christmas silent auction.

The Foundation is also not restricted from receiving funds designated for the System and passing them on to the System unrestricted, or pursuant to the donor’s wishes. But the Foundation board (which has no term limits) decided it cannot do this. The Foundation board refuses to act as a “pass through” for donations, even though it has already done so. It used its Givebutter online platform just this Spring to facilitate a major fundraiser for the LSRV Friends of the Library group. Those funds may be used however the LSRV group chooses, including paying for the wages of the LSRV branch staff, should that be necessary.

The Foundation has long held the belief that it can give money to the System for anything but operating costs. Operating costs are a lot of things, but the largest cost is staffing. The fear has always been that if the Foundation covers staffing once, the County will expect it to continue doing so forever. I get that fear. That’s why I’ve repeatedly pressed the County Commissioners not to take the fundraising we’ve done as sustainable.

The larger, underlying principle (that the Commissioners say they agree with) is that public services like libraries should be funded by public dollars (taxes); they should not have to rely on private donations. I agree with this principle, but the key word is “should.” In this time of chaos created by Freedom Caucus legislators who won’t stop at reducing property taxes—they want to abolish them—“should” has given way to “must.” And there is no dispute that the County must fund critical services such as law enforcement, road and infrastructure maintenance, emergency response services, etc. before they fund libraries, museums, and senior centers, etc.

I still respect that principle, but the System board under my leadership adhered to a higher priority: keeping the libraries open for the people that need them the most. Like kids. Kids did not ask for property tax cuts. Low-income parents did not ask for them. Their landlords aren’t passing property tax savings on to them as reduced rent. These people don’t care who is to blame for libraries closing; they’re too busy struggling to stay alive and give their kids a fighting chance at economic success that seems more elusive every day. If we close branch libraries in struggling towns, chances diminish for everyone who lives there.

And what’s worse, if a library closes and ceases to be part of the system, it is extremely unlikely it will reopen as part of the system again. A standalone library—even if it can be considered a true library rather than just a free book exchange—is far inferior to one that is part of a system, particularly one that is linked to a foundation. Closures and a very public bankruptcy of the System’s bank account were the goal of our former library director, who rage quit when the System board voted to look for funds elsewhere rather than close Hanna and Medicine Bow. The next thing she did was join the Foundation board … did I mention the Foundation board has no term limits?

Meanwhile, we on the System Board searched for solutions that would serve all Carbon County residents no matter where they live, even if we lacked the money to staff their branches at times. Three of the Foundation board members have been very helpful, bringing creative ideas, energy, and determination not to give up. One of those wonderful people even stepped up as our interim director—twice! She cautioned me against writing this letter. I recognize that the Foundation did not have enough time to make a decision. But I believe the WyoGives Day debacle is a symptom of how the Foundation’s line-in-the-sand about public vs. private funding for operating costs has become a psychological impediment rather than an actual one. The Foundation is in no way prohibited from passing funds through to the System unrestricted. If the state can get through its self-imposed funding crisis, and I believe it will, the System still needs money now to keep those branches from closing before we get over this fiscal hill.

If you read the Foundation’s bio on the WyoGives website, you can see why their “we won’t fund it if they won’t” attitude is counterproductive. It’s like refusing to feed your kids because the city turned your water off, then asking for money for groceries. It’s too negative. All about what the Foundation won’t support. Kind of a backwards way to go about asking for money, if you ask me. Unsurprisingly, they raised only $530 through WyoGives Day.

Don’t get me wrong, I love our library System, and I think everyone is truly grateful for the over $500,000 the Foundation has given to the System over the past decade. I did not want to leave the Board, but I felt the only way to say what I have to say and not risk retribution to the System was to step down before writing this letter. If this letter causes you heartburn, blame me, not the System.

I, as an individual, call on the Carbon County Library Foundation board to rethink its direction (and consider adding term limits for its members). I call on the Foundation to consider what it would do with all of the money it saved if the County could only afford to keep the main library open, if anything. And I call on the Foundation to take the helm on educating the public on the ballot measures, as the way they generously did with the System’s Centennial celebrations last winter. The System could not have managed that on the heels of a 53% budget cut.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I disagree with closing libraries to make a statement. I think there are better ways to get attention and influence the hearts and minds of voters. I think our kids deserve genuine effort, not infighting. If that makes me a traitor to my former profession as a librarian, so be it. I’d rather save libraries than be orthodox.

And what is so wrong with private donations for public services? I get that it shouldn’t be the norm, and if Wyoming voters do decide to defund their local governments and schools, then our System will have to shrink to one location—or none. Free public libraries exist in America primarily because of one wealthy Mr. Andrew Carnegie. Governments built their library systems up following his example, not vice versa. We must shed this sense of entitlement to government funds in times of great financial distress. Let the people who want to donate to save their libraries save their libraries with their donations. That’s what I was thinking when I wrote my checks.

Sincerely,

Adelaide Myers, former chair of the Carbon County Library System Board of Directors

New Parks Director Invites Community to Help Improve Rawlins

Publisher — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 18:00:00 +0000

New Parks Director Invites Community to Help Improve Rawlins

Publisher Sat, 07/18/2026 - 20:00

Thank you, Rawlins!

I want to take a moment to sincerely thank the Rawlins community for the warm welcome you’ve given me as I begin serving as your Director of Parks & Recreation Over the past several weeks, I’ve been spending time learning about our parks, recreation facilities, cemetery, shooting ranges, sports complex, green spaces, and the many amenities that make our community special. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and committed to making a positive difference. As we continue evaluating our facilities, I’m implementing a new tracking and accountability system for Parks and Rec, that will help us document concerns, prioritize projects, and ensure maintenance issues are addressed as efficiently as possible. I would love your help. If you notice damaged playground equipment, park maintenance needs, tree concerns, irrigation issues, vandalism, safety hazards, cemetery concerns, issues at the Rawlins Family Recreation Center, shooting ranges, sports complex, golf course, or any City maintained green space, please visit our city website and use the links at the bottom of the homepage and click on Concerns and Requests, then scroll down to Parks and Rec and select the area of concern that needs attention. Here is a direct link: www.rawlinswy.gov/concern Every report will be reviewed and entered into our tracking system so we can prioritize repairs and improvements based on safety, need, and available resources. Thank you for your patience as we continue improving our operations and building a stronger system of accountability. Most importantly, thank you for helping us protect and care for the community resources we all enjoy. Together, we’ll continue making Rawlins a great place to live, play, and recreate.

Respectfully,

Billy Hunt

Director of Parks & Recreation City of Rawlins

Save Our Libraries

Publisher — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Save Our Libraries

Publisher Sat, 07/04/2026 - 17:30

To the people of Carbon County,

Please help us S.A.V.E. our libraries.

Three things will happen if the county does not increase funding for the Carbon County Library System when they vote in July.

1. Staff will be laid off leaving a smaller team to run libraries, host programs, get grants, and more.

2. There will only be 20 open hours per week at the Rawlins Library.

3. All branch libraries will close unless communities can support them financially.

The Board of County Commissioners is expected to not fund libraries to stay open at current service levels. Library funding has been cut by about 70% in the last five years. Libraries already rely on the foundation, towns, grants, and friends groups for more than $225,000 each year.

Did you know that last year Carbon County Libraries had over 43,000 visits and checked out more than 36,000 items? Libraries are more than places to borrow books. They are welcoming spaces where people connect, learn, and access resources that may not be available anywhere else.

How you can help save our libraries:

Support - Donate $25 for one hour of operation at any library at www.carbonlibraries.org

Advocate - Email or call your commissioners commissoners@carboncountywy.gov

Vote - Vote to protect property tax and sales tax.

Engage - Join a group to help fundraise.

Want to learn more? Visit www.carbonlibraries.org to read “Tax Dollars, Partners, and You” or reach out to the libraries directly at director@carbonlibraries.org or 307-328-2618.

Sincerely,

The Carbon County Library Foundation

County Libraries Face Uncertain Future

Publisher — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:30:00 +0000

County Libraries Face Uncertain Future Publisher Tue, 06/16/2026 - 15:30

Dear Communities,

The Board of the Carbon County Library System would like to share what is happening with funding and the future of our libraries. Although we all wish that we could go back and change the path we are currently on, the reality is that with reduced funding comes reduced services. But you can help us bring those services back! But first, let’s look at the numbers.

If the system receives approximately $140,000 from the County as expected the Board will make the following changes:

• Main library in Rawlins only open 20 hours a week

• Branch libraries closed unless communities are able to support them financially

• Reduced staff to purchase and process materials, less time for grants and projects, and less support for technology, marketing and programming county-wide

Please visualize these impacts with us: in 2015, the library system received over $600,000 from the County. In FY 2026-2027, we expect 77% less. In other words, if the budget passes as presented, the system will be operating on less than one quarter of the funds it had a decade ago—and if we adjust for inflation, it’s closer to six percent (6%). With just an additional $100,000 for the Library System, these impacts would be softened greatly, and we could avoid painful effects on our valuable staff. Unfortunately, they will bear the brunt of these impacts, and their communities will suffer accordingly.

This isn’t the whole financial picture, however. There are many other generous organizations, such as library nonprofits and towns, that have maintained or increased their financial support to the library over the last fiscal year. These angels plus spending down our savings are what kept our libraries open in 2025 and 2026. To read all about the library’s budget, please visit www.carbonlibraries.org or visit your local branch for a copy of “Carbon County Libraries: Tax Dollars, Partners, and You!”

As we prepare for a likely shortfall, we are asking everyone to help us SAVE the libraries! Here is how you can help:

Support your local library by donating funds to the library system, friends of your local library group, or the library foundation. A little girl in Elk Mountain recently asked her mother for more chores to earn money. “Why”, asked the mother, thinking she wanted to purchase a new toy or bike. She wanted to give the money to the library, and did so. Donate today at any library or at www.carbonlibraries.org!

Advocate for libraries with county commissioners, your fellow voters, and the state legislature by calling, emailing or speaking at meetings to help ensure that decision makers understand how important these services are to our communities.

Vote to keep important funding sources for local government including property and sales taxes. Make your voice heard with state and local officials, and at the ballot box. This is particularly important as we approach the election, because there WILL be a statewide ballot measure to reduce property taxes by an additional 50%. If the measure passes, the County will likely have no choice but to further reduce the library system’s allocation. Remember, the County is only required by statute to fund one library in the county seat—but not to any specific dollar amount.

Engage with local nonprofits that support the library. Encampment, LSRV, and Saratoga all have active Friends of the Libraries groups who raise funds to support their community branch library. Other organizations are also hosting fundraisers. The Carbon County Library Foundation enhances what libraries can offer by providing for programs, collections, technology, and opportunities that go beyond basic operations. All of these organizations welcome new members! We even have an open seat on the library board for someone who wants to be involved with our decision making. Could that be you?

If you have questions about the budget, our libraries, or anything else, please call or email the Board or our interim director, Jenita Calton. A former library staff member and active member of the Foundation, Jenita stepped in immediately to keep the system running when we lost our director. Without her, we would not have made it through the winter. She has also been instrumental in planning for the coming year amid significant uncertainty. Even so, we remain optimistic about the future and hopeful that our funding picture will improve. We are also pleased to announce that we have hired a permanent director, Jacob Ray, who will join us on June 1st from Alaska’s North Slope. We know he understands what “rural” means for a system like ours, and we look forward to his fresh perspective and ideas to sustain, grow, and improve service across Carbon County.

We ask you to please help SAVE our libraries. We believe that if we work together we will succeed!

Sincerely, Carbon County Library System Board of Directors

Please direct communications to: director@carbonlibraries.org, 307-328-2618 and/or adelaidemyers8080@gmail.com, 307-710-8080.

Resident Says OBC Gives Back to Valley

Publisher — Sat, 09 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Resident Says OBC Gives Back to Valley Publisher Sat, 05/09/2026 - 07:00

To The Editor

I try not to respond to others’ opinions too quickly....especially if that opinion somehow includes me and in my opinion isn’t very favorable. I recently read that there is a line of thinking that involves residents of OBC and implied that the motivation for living there was to be able to claim a deduction in property taxes and live comfortably someplace else....California was mentioned. If I didn’t believe that the person saying these words had the best interest of various communities at heart and was just speaking emotionally, I think my feelings would have been hurt.....well, they kinda were, in hindsight. I’ve lived at OBC for five years now and so I’m not eligible for the deduction. I’m not the only one. I know of several who are not, either because they are not old enough or haven’t owned a home there for 25 years and paid enough years of property taxes. To lump everyone in one big pot is not right. Additionally, claiming or not claiming the deduction probably isn’t at the forefront of residents and non-residential members of OBC. I certainly am not the spokesperson for the club, but speaking for myself, I would target a government and leadership that allow unfavorable legislature to continue to happen. I will also state that the support within OBC for the North Platte valley community is immense. Ask the organizers of the many community events, Toga Days and the Rodeo; or the financial supporters of the hospital, school activities, childcare center and libraries, or supporters of the fire departments and museums.

I am reminded of a song by the late Toby Keith, “How Do You Like Me Now?”. I am a Wyoming resident and able to vote. I’ve gone through the list of our leadership and asked that very question and in my opinion, I don’t. I see bickering, name-calling, backstabbing and alot of kingdom building....and some,(but very little) cohesive effort to work on behalf of our communities. There isn’t a whole lot I can do to change the state, but I am very proud to be a member of Carbon County, the North Platte Valley and OBC who supports it.”

Thank you for caring so deeply...I do too!

Ryta Sondergaard

OBC resident

Library Week Highlights Joy and Warns of Tax Cuts Impact

Publisher — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Library Week Highlights Joy and Warns of Tax Cuts Impact Publisher Sat, 04/25/2026 - 07:00

Dear Editor,

While it will be mostly over before this letter is printed, this week, April 19-25, is designated as National Library Week. The theme for this year is “Find Your Joy.” For many, including me, just walking into a library sparks joy. No matter how often I do it, I am always overcome by a sense of possibility. I can go anywhere and do anything vicariously through a book. I can learn new things and enrich my life. It is exciting!

Less exciting, but still important—I can walk into a library and take care of “office” things. A few weeks ago, I went to the library in Saratoga and sent a fax to the IRS, because who has a fax machine in 2026? Your library, that’s who—so you don’t have to. Whether it is entertainment or assistance with your own non-consensual pen pal, the Library is there for you, and has been even during the chapters of your life where you did not need it, or were too busy to read for pleasure. Libraries bring joy to most of us just because they exist.

While you are enjoying your library from inside or from a distance, please remember that we have libraries in Carbon County because we pay property taxes in Carbon County. We also have road and bridge maintenance, senior centers, youth crisis services, museums, public health, and so many other services because we pay property taxes. It brings me no joy to remind you that, due to property tax reductions statewide, we have had to reduce services and hours at all branches. More property tax reductions will come this fall if voters approve an additional 50% reduction, and that may result in us having to close branches. While that possibility is a little way off from now, I hope you will remember this letter and all of the other things you enjoy as a resident of Carbon County when you go to the ballot box and decide whether to keep property taxes working for you and for your community.

Thank you.

Adelaide P. Myers

Chair, Carbon County Library System Board of Directors

How to Avoid the Holiday Glitch

Publisher — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

How to Avoid the Holiday Glitch

Publisher Sat, 12/13/2025 - 07:00

Dear Editor,

As your local Postmaster, I want to share a few insider tips to help make your holiday mailing smooth and stress-free. Every year, we see the same challenge: customers wait until the last minute, and the rush makes things harder for everyone. My best advice? Ship early — don’t wait.

For expected delivery before December 25 within the contiguous United States, here are the recommended mailing dates:

• Dec. 17: USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail

• Dec. 18: Priority Mail

• Dec. 20: Priority Mail Express

If you’re sending packages to military or international addresses, please visit usps.com/holiday/holiday-shipping-dates for the full list of suggested dates.

Beyond timing, how you pack and address your items makes a big difference. Choose a box that’s sturdy and just slightly larger than your contents. Fill empty spaces with bubble wrap or paper so items don’t shift, and always reinforce seams with strong packing tape (never string or wrapping paper). For fragile items, wrap each piece individually and place heavier items at the bottom.

When addressing packages, write clearly and legibly. Place the recipient’s full name and address in the center, and your return address in the top left corner. Printing labels or using capital letters helps ensure our scanners read them correctly. And here’s a pro tip: tuck a card with both the “to” and “from” information inside the box, just in case the outer label gets damaged.

The Postal Service works hard to deliver your holiday cards and gifts safely and on time, but you can help us by preparing early and packing carefully. Together, we’ll make sure your holiday greetings and packages arrive with care.

Sincerely,

Todd Bouley

Postmaster

Rawlins, WY

Food Bank of Wyoming Thanks Supporters Amid SNAP Crisis

Publisher — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Food Bank of Wyoming Thanks Supporters Amid SNAP Crisis Publisher Sat, 11/15/2025 - 07:00

Dear Editor,

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the support we have received from generous people and organizations like you during this difficult time. Thank you!

As the government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits for November continue to be on pause, we are thrilled about the $10 million emergency allocation announced recently by the state of Wyoming to help nourish our neighbors. The state is allocating these funds to communities that will be most impacted by the pause on benefits by directing the funding in the form of credits to order food for free from Food Bank of Wyoming and in direct payments to keep money circulating in the local economy by allowing partners to purchase food from grocers in their community.

The deadline for November SNAP benefits to be dispersed expired on the first of the month. This means that the more than 28,000 Wyomingites who rely on support from SNAP to put food on their tables (44% of whom are children; 13% are people over age 65) did not receive the support they count on to eat. For every meal that a food bank can provide, SNAP provides nine. Even if SNAP benefits are reinstated this month, there is a chance people will not receive a full back-payment for November. This disruption in SNAP benefits is and will continue to be devastating for our neighbors facing hunger.

While we are deeply appreciative of the support from the state of Wyoming, we are also aware that the gap being left by this SNAP disruption will create a larger need than we and our network of partners can fill. In addition, furloughed federal employees continue to experience paycheck disruptions, resulting in many of them using food banks and food pantries for the first time.

Food Bank of Wyoming will continue to distribute as much food as we can during this time. We have added additional mobile pantries in high-need communities and increased the amount of food at existing mobile pantries. We are also providing additional resources for our partners to nourish their community members.

This will be a challenging time for Wyomingites experiencing food insecurity. We can’t say enough how much we appreciate every gift of time and financial support from generous people like you. We urge you to please share our call to action to help us rapidly respond to this crisis by distributing more food, including protein and fresh produce. Please consider making a donation today at wyomingfoodbank.org/give or signing up to volunteer at wyomingfoodbank.org/get-involved/volunteer.

If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, please utilize our network resources. Our Find Food Page shows all food resources available based on ZIP code. You can also call 2-1-1 to identify additional hunger-relief resources near you.

Thank you for helping us meet this need, and please reach out with questions or concerns.

With respect and appreciation,

Danica Sveda

Executive Director, Food Bank of Wyoming

Two Words That Still Matter — ‘Welcome Home’

Publisher — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Two Words That Still Matter — ‘Welcome Home’ Publisher Sat, 11/15/2025 - 07:00

Dear Editor,

As we approach Veterans Day, we are often reminded to “thank a veteran for their service.” While this gesture is deeply appreciated by many of us who have served, I have come to realize that for some veterans, those words do not carry quite the same meaning. It is not that they are ungrateful for the recognition, but rather that something else would go so much further in truly honoring their service and sacrifice.

I am referring to our Vietnam Veterans. These brave men and women served their country with honor, yet when they returned home, they were met not with cheers or appreciation but with anger and rejection. They did their duty and carried the burdens of war, only to face judgment from those they had fought to protect.

Now, more than fifty years later, we have an opportunity to make this right. Each year, our Governor proclaims a “Welcome Home Veterans Day,” as directed by state statute. But that proclamation only matters if we, as a community, stand behind it. It is up to us to ensure that every Vietnam Veteran finally receives the recognition and gratitude they have long deserved.

As a veteran who did not serve in Vietnam, I feel a deep sense of respect and responsibility toward those who did. So, this Veterans Day, and every day after, I ask that when you meet a Vietnam Veteran, you take a moment to look them in the eye and simply say, “Welcome Home.” Those two words may seem small, but to them, they mean the world.

Let us be the generation that finally gives our Vietnam Veterans the welcome home they earned so long ago.

Respectfully,

Scott Schamber

A Concerned Citizen