I've just discovered the Wyoming Tribune Eagle's website, called Wyoming News.com, and I must say there's not a lot there. Perhaps its in the beginning stages.
Anyway, for the local news, there are 3 stories. Count 'em, three. (I don't provide the links to the rest of each story, the idea is only to show a snapshot of what is going on in Cheyenne each day. The Wyoming News.com doesn't appear to be the best source, but I'll use it for now!
With your help, no Cheyenne family will go hungry this Christmas
Several fundraising efforts will help provide boxes full of groceries so that needy families can enjoy a holiday meal with all the trimmings.
More of this story
Cheyenne drivers hiding cell phones to dodge tickets
During a special operation, Cheyenne police officials found many drivers conceal their phones when they spot a marked police car, rather than obey the law.
More of this story
Man robs local bank, still at large
The suspect threatened to use a weapon, though he did not reveal one, during the robbery at Cheyenne State bank early Wednesday.
More of this story
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Don't Drive and Talk (on your cellphone)
Wyoming News.com: Cheyenne drivers hiding cell phones to dodge tickets
During a special operation, Cheyenne police officials found many drivers conceal their phones when they spot a marked police car, rather than obey the law.
By Lindsey Erin Kroskob
lkroskob@wyomingnews.com
CHEYENNE -- Cheyenne drivers have made it clear that they would rather hide their cell phone when they spot a marked police car than avoid talking on the phone while driving.
The Cheyenne Police Department conducted a cell phone ban study last week to assess the severity of ordinance violation.
Of the 24 tickets issued last Friday, 21 were handed out by officers in unmarked vehicles.
"Clearly we see that the ordinance itself continues to be violated," Sgt. Rob Dafoe said. "Anyone driving around in an unmarked car or in their personal vehicle can see that people are still using their cell phones."
An officer sat in an unmarked car in the 400 block of West Lincolnway for two hours Nov. 18 to count the number of drivers using cell phones. In that time frame, 56 out of the 1,000 drivers, about 5.6 percent, were visibly using a cell phone.
Dafoe said that figure is a round average for the number of offenders.
"It was just to give us an idea," he said. "We are going to continue to study and provide increased enforcement as our resources allow."
The following day, three unmarked vehicles and one patrol car hit the streets for three to four hours to specifically cite cell phone ordinance violators.
Cheyenne Police Lt. Marti Allsop issued 11 tickets Friday. Ten out of the 11 drivers said they knew that talking on their cell phone was the reason they were being pulled over. One driver had a temporary license plate out of Colorado and wasn't aware of the ordinance.
Cheyenne Police Chief Brian Kozak said he was out with the enforcement team for about an hour Friday and issued three citations.
"Everyone that lives in the county knows about the ordinance," Kozak said. "It goes to show that it has been properly publicized."
He said the department is going to take a "zero tolerance" stance on cell phone ban enforcement.
But that doesn't come without its challenges.
"The majority of offenders live and work in the Cheyenne area," Dafoe said. "Too often these drivers have become kind of police smart."
He said drivers who choose to talk on their cell phones will keep an eye out for marked vehicles and either conceal the phone or quickly hang up.
Dafoe said it is human nature to slow down or make complete stops when a marked officer is visible, but "this seems to be more of an overt act to avoid compliance with the ordinance."
"That takes a very conscious effort," he said.
The department hopes to increase enforcement of the ordinance, but Dafoe said it's difficult to catch offenders with daily traffic enforcement units, which is about two to three officers on an average day.
These officers are required by law to drive clearly marked vehicles.
"Kids don't get into the cookie jar when mom is in the kitchen," Dafoe said. "It's a rock-and-a-hard-place scenario."
Adding unmarked vehicles to focus on cell phone violations would take additional funds out of the department's budget.
"It is very resource intensive," Dafoe said.
Kozak said they plan to do cell phone ban enforcement once a month if they can. The department did another compliance study Wednesday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Dell Range Boulevard. He said they also plan on getting the word out on the department's variable message boards around town.
"I think a lot of people might forget the hazards involved, and we want them to know that we are out there enforcing the law for good reason," Kozak said, adding that being able to focus on driving is key. "It's a split second and you could be in an emergency situation, and you need that time to react properly."
During a special operation, Cheyenne police officials found many drivers conceal their phones when they spot a marked police car, rather than obey the law.
By Lindsey Erin Kroskob
lkroskob@wyomingnews.com
CHEYENNE -- Cheyenne drivers have made it clear that they would rather hide their cell phone when they spot a marked police car than avoid talking on the phone while driving.
The Cheyenne Police Department conducted a cell phone ban study last week to assess the severity of ordinance violation.
Of the 24 tickets issued last Friday, 21 were handed out by officers in unmarked vehicles.
"Clearly we see that the ordinance itself continues to be violated," Sgt. Rob Dafoe said. "Anyone driving around in an unmarked car or in their personal vehicle can see that people are still using their cell phones."
An officer sat in an unmarked car in the 400 block of West Lincolnway for two hours Nov. 18 to count the number of drivers using cell phones. In that time frame, 56 out of the 1,000 drivers, about 5.6 percent, were visibly using a cell phone.
Dafoe said that figure is a round average for the number of offenders.
"It was just to give us an idea," he said. "We are going to continue to study and provide increased enforcement as our resources allow."
The following day, three unmarked vehicles and one patrol car hit the streets for three to four hours to specifically cite cell phone ordinance violators.
Cheyenne Police Lt. Marti Allsop issued 11 tickets Friday. Ten out of the 11 drivers said they knew that talking on their cell phone was the reason they were being pulled over. One driver had a temporary license plate out of Colorado and wasn't aware of the ordinance.
Cheyenne Police Chief Brian Kozak said he was out with the enforcement team for about an hour Friday and issued three citations.
"Everyone that lives in the county knows about the ordinance," Kozak said. "It goes to show that it has been properly publicized."
He said the department is going to take a "zero tolerance" stance on cell phone ban enforcement.
But that doesn't come without its challenges.
"The majority of offenders live and work in the Cheyenne area," Dafoe said. "Too often these drivers have become kind of police smart."
He said drivers who choose to talk on their cell phones will keep an eye out for marked vehicles and either conceal the phone or quickly hang up.
Dafoe said it is human nature to slow down or make complete stops when a marked officer is visible, but "this seems to be more of an overt act to avoid compliance with the ordinance."
"That takes a very conscious effort," he said.
The department hopes to increase enforcement of the ordinance, but Dafoe said it's difficult to catch offenders with daily traffic enforcement units, which is about two to three officers on an average day.
These officers are required by law to drive clearly marked vehicles.
"Kids don't get into the cookie jar when mom is in the kitchen," Dafoe said. "It's a rock-and-a-hard-place scenario."
Adding unmarked vehicles to focus on cell phone violations would take additional funds out of the department's budget.
"It is very resource intensive," Dafoe said.
Kozak said they plan to do cell phone ban enforcement once a month if they can. The department did another compliance study Wednesday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Dell Range Boulevard. He said they also plan on getting the word out on the department's variable message boards around town.
"I think a lot of people might forget the hazards involved, and we want them to know that we are out there enforcing the law for good reason," Kozak said, adding that being able to focus on driving is key. "It's a split second and you could be in an emergency situation, and you need that time to react properly."
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
11 degrees and a windchill of who knows what?
I've mentioned that I've been driving relatives around for a while. My aunt Carol is staying with us, and today I took her to the Wyoming State Museum, located at 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne.
(Open Mon to Fri 9 am to 4.30 pm, Sat 10 am to 2. pm, closed Sundays)
Photos aren't allowed inside the museum, but I'll share exterior photos later on. I did not take exterior photos today because it was just too damn cold!
Anyway, a feature of this blog, as soon as I can find a place to give me the reliable info, will be to post highs and lows, temperature-wise, for every day of the year.
A travelling exhibit called Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace will be at the musuem until November 27...which gives folks about 2 more days to see it, since it'll be closed tomorrow, Thanksiving. Oversize reproductions of several of the strips featuring Snoopy in his pilot gear, with expanatory placards giving history of Charles Schultz and why he decided to feature Snoopy against the Red Baron, and so on. (Since Schultz was born in Minneapolis, MN and died in California I don't know why the Wyoming State Museum has this exhibit, but it's a lot of fun. I've never cared for the Peanuts comic strip - I don't like sad sack characters like Charlie Brown - and most of the time I don't like Snoopy, except in his guise as the WWI flying ace.
(Open Mon to Fri 9 am to 4.30 pm, Sat 10 am to 2. pm, closed Sundays)
Photos aren't allowed inside the museum, but I'll share exterior photos later on. I did not take exterior photos today because it was just too damn cold!
Anyway, a feature of this blog, as soon as I can find a place to give me the reliable info, will be to post highs and lows, temperature-wise, for every day of the year.
A travelling exhibit called Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace will be at the musuem until November 27...which gives folks about 2 more days to see it, since it'll be closed tomorrow, Thanksiving. Oversize reproductions of several of the strips featuring Snoopy in his pilot gear, with expanatory placards giving history of Charles Schultz and why he decided to feature Snoopy against the Red Baron, and so on. (Since Schultz was born in Minneapolis, MN and died in California I don't know why the Wyoming State Museum has this exhibit, but it's a lot of fun. I've never cared for the Peanuts comic strip - I don't like sad sack characters like Charlie Brown - and most of the time I don't like Snoopy, except in his guise as the WWI flying ace.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A Man and his Pet
I have returned to Cheyenne after a week long trip visiting relatives.
Serious posts in this blog begin tomorrow.
For now...above is a fun photo from South Dakota, west of Murdo which has the big antique car museum. It's a skeletal dinosaur...led by a skeletal man.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Odessa Meteor Crater, Odessa, TX
A few days ago, I took what I expected to be a 4 day trip at the most. A drive down to Sweetwater, Texas to attend the first annual WASP Museum 5K Run fundraiser, than a visit to my relatives in Burleson, TX, then back up to Cheyenne.
But my aunt asked me to take her to visit her sister (my other aunt) in Box Elder, SD, and then to take her to see my mom, now in Cheyenne, and then back down to Burleson. Since I love to drive, and she offered to split costs, I said yes. But, that means my trip has been extended by several days. I'm currently in Shamrock, TX.
Here are a few photos of the Odessa Meteor Crater in Odessa, Texas.
And here's the write up from Wikipedia:
The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in the southwestern part of Ector County, southwest of the city of Odessa, Texas, United States. It is located approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of I-20 at FM 1936 south.[1] This is one of two impact crater sites found in Texas, the other being the much larger and older Sierra Madera crater.
The Handbook of Texas Online describes the Odessa meteor crater as the largest of several smaller craters in the immediate area that were formed by the impact of thousands of octahedrites (an iron metallic type) that fell in prehistoric times.[2]
The web site of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB, Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED)), identifies five craters at the Odessa site and shows a distribution map of the meteorite fragments recovered from the area.
The recoveries have generally come from an area to the north and northwest of the main crater site, with only a few found to the south. They indicate that the structure of the main crater, because it was one of the earliest to be recognized and studied, is now used to name similar impact sites on a worldwide basis. Over 1500 meteorites have been recovered from the surrounding area over the years, the largest of which weighed approximately 300 pounds (135 kg), but excavations in the main crater confirm that there is no meteorite mass underground and probably never has been. The site has been designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service, and a small information area and nature trail has been set up on-site for a self-guided tour.
It is 168 meters (~550 feet) in diameter and the age is estimated to be around 63,500 years (Pleistocene or younger). The crater is exposed to the surface, and was originally about 100 feet (30 meters) deep. Due to subsequent infilling by soil and debris, the crater is currently 15 feet (5 meters) deep at its lowest point, which provides enough relief to be visible over the surrounding plains, but does not offer the dramatic relief found at the more famous Meteor Crater in Arizona.
Still, the site offers an excellent opportunity to view a relatively uncommon impact feature close to a major transportation artery near a major city.
But my aunt asked me to take her to visit her sister (my other aunt) in Box Elder, SD, and then to take her to see my mom, now in Cheyenne, and then back down to Burleson. Since I love to drive, and she offered to split costs, I said yes. But, that means my trip has been extended by several days. I'm currently in Shamrock, TX.
Here are a few photos of the Odessa Meteor Crater in Odessa, Texas.
And here's the write up from Wikipedia:
The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in the southwestern part of Ector County, southwest of the city of Odessa, Texas, United States. It is located approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of I-20 at FM 1936 south.[1] This is one of two impact crater sites found in Texas, the other being the much larger and older Sierra Madera crater.
The Handbook of Texas Online describes the Odessa meteor crater as the largest of several smaller craters in the immediate area that were formed by the impact of thousands of octahedrites (an iron metallic type) that fell in prehistoric times.[2]
The web site of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB, Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED)), identifies five craters at the Odessa site and shows a distribution map of the meteorite fragments recovered from the area.
The recoveries have generally come from an area to the north and northwest of the main crater site, with only a few found to the south. They indicate that the structure of the main crater, because it was one of the earliest to be recognized and studied, is now used to name similar impact sites on a worldwide basis. Over 1500 meteorites have been recovered from the surrounding area over the years, the largest of which weighed approximately 300 pounds (135 kg), but excavations in the main crater confirm that there is no meteorite mass underground and probably never has been. The site has been designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service, and a small information area and nature trail has been set up on-site for a self-guided tour.
It is 168 meters (~550 feet) in diameter and the age is estimated to be around 63,500 years (Pleistocene or younger). The crater is exposed to the surface, and was originally about 100 feet (30 meters) deep. Due to subsequent infilling by soil and debris, the crater is currently 15 feet (5 meters) deep at its lowest point, which provides enough relief to be visible over the surrounding plains, but does not offer the dramatic relief found at the more famous Meteor Crater in Arizona.
Still, the site offers an excellent opportunity to view a relatively uncommon impact feature close to a major transportation artery near a major city.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Kit Carson Trading Post
Cheyenne is located in the southeast corner of the state, and its a 5 minute drive into Colorado.
I'm currently on travel, in Texas, and did not bring my camera cord so I could download photos. So apologies for not being to upload lots of photos.
Here is a photo of the Kit Carson Trading Post, located in the tiny town of Kit Carson, Colorado.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Two views from the deck of my new house
When I lived in Minneapolis, MN, nothing stopped people from going to work in winter. An inch of snow, two inches, six inches, a foot? The snowplows were out at the first sight of a snowflake, and people were expected to bus or drive to work - and they did. (Of course, this was 20 years ago when the city had the money to have snowplows running constantly, I haven't lived there for 10 years and with the new austerity drive that cities are engaged in...who knows?
Anyway, I don't know about Cheyenne. They must be used to snow (unlike Yorktown, VA where I've lived for the last 8 years, and where if it snowed a mere half inch, the entire city shut down) but I don't know if they have snowplows or if everyone here has a 4-wheel drive truck that they take out at times like these. (In the housing area in which I live, there seems to be an average of 4 vehicles in every yard - only two of which work. My closest neighbor has nine vehicles in his yard. Plus two horses and a sheep.)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Boots of Cheyenne - Library Boot
A fund raising activity that a lot of cities in the USA took part in several years ago was to make scultptures - or casts, I suppose - of the town's "signature item", have artists paint them, then auction them off, and place them in areas around town.
Many years ago in St. Paul, MN it was Snoopy...and I remember how sad it was that many of these wonderfully painted statues were later vandalized by young punks with their grafitti cans, or even destroyed - heads ripped off.
In Norfolk, Virginia, it was the mermaid...in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina it was a winged horse, and here in Cheyenne, it was the boot.
There are 18 boots in Cheyenne, and as this blog progresses I'll show each one.
The Library Boot was painted by Max Larkin, and bought by the Laramie County Library [i.e. the taxpayers who fund the library!]. There are four sides to the boot - the left and right sides, the toe, and the... I suppose it's called the spine.
I only took photos of 3 of the 4 sides...forgetting about the spine...I don't actually think the spine was decorated on this one.
The buildings on the boots are old Cheyenne libraries, now superseded by this new one (see photo 1). On the toe are characters from Beatrix Potter, on the shaft of the boot is Alice.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
I'm settling in
I apologize for the paucity of posts to this blog. We arrived at our new house a couple of weeks ago, with all our boxes of books. But all the bookcases to put the books on were left in Virginia. Now they have arrived, and I've been busy unpacking.
I'll be posting pictures and info here on a regular basis starting tomorrow.
I'll be posting pictures and info here on a regular basis starting tomorrow.
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