v v moresmmowwmn 115ESUBJEETTDLICENSEAGREEMENT REPaowcnoN msssuwmw STORAGE mswawownomawsn BRR Big Horn County’s Longest Running Newspaper s we ALLEDNTENTCDPVWGHTED ALL moHTsaEsEavED THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024 134TH YEAR ISSUE NO. 31 $1 RB AS not*******************MIXED ADC 826 3GB 7T 627 00-00700 SMALL TOWN PAPERS 927 W RAILROAD AVE SHELTON WA 98584—3847 ll ## “Illlllllllll Illll ||||||llulllui|mlll.lllulllmlr|l|"|l| bucan Rustler New phone number for free mental health sessions BY BARBARA ANNE GREENE The phone number for Big Horn County residents wanting free mental health sessions has changed. County prevention spe- cialist Travis Sylvester updated the commissioners at their Dec. 19 meeting. The new phone number is 307- 777-8788. The free sessions are for me ag, farming and rodeo com— munin‘es in the county, which as Sylvester points out, is just about every resident. “it’s incredible... six free sessions," he said, “That's the thing we hear all the time. The stigma. People don't want to walk into a mental health clinic. Then also concerns of cost. Six free ses- sions can go a long way," Sylvester also shared that the BHC Prevention Alliance is hosting a mental health night at a Rocky MountaineLovell basketball game. A bingo game is planned. He said the night would be in partnership with the North Big Horn Hospital The updated goal for the coune ty prevention is to go where the people are, If this mental health night goes well, they will likely do one at a Basin-Greybull game and then at a Burlington game. The Big Horn County Preven- tion Coalition is working with Syl- vester to provide NARCAN train? ing. The first responders will be one of the oups trained. He is a ways working on pro- viding mental health training for FROSTY WALK and Wm" Canine com anions enjoy a brisk walk along an irrigation canal in the early morning hours last month. While temps have been . unseasonab y warmer around the basin, cooler weather is possibly on the way for this weekend, Big Horn County taxpayers received nearly $90,000 in property tax refunds last year BY NATHAN OSTER At a time of soaring proper? ty values, a key question facing Big Horn County residents and their elected leaders as 2024 be- gins is what, if anything, can be done to provide relief to those who struggle to meet their prop? erty tax payment obligation. Property tax relief was a hot topic at last year's legislative ses- sion, and then a ain last month when count of cials, including Niki Vigil, t e country treasur~ er, and Anderson, met with state legislators. Vigil said her office heard from many county residents who were frustrated over their rising property tax bills and spent con~ siderable time directing them to the relief program administered by the state and helping them with their applications. To be eligible for the refund program, for which applications were due by June 5, 2023, prop- erty owners must have lived in the state for five years and oc» cupied their home at least nine of the 12 months last year, have household incomes of $96,888 or less along with $150,000 or less in assets and have aid their 2022 pro erty taxes in ull. Those who qua ified were eligible to re? ceive up to 50% of their property taxes refunded from the state of Wyomin . “Ultimately, the decision fall to the state whether or not they qualify," said Vigil. Many did, according to a re- port from the Wyoming Depart- ment of Revenue. For tax year 2022, the revenue department reported that of the 173 appli* cations received from Big Horn County, 154 were approved and only 19 were denied. The total amount issued to Big Horn Coun* ty property owners amounted to $70,724, with the avera e refund totaling approximately 5459. All of those figures far sur- passed the Big Horn County toe tals from the 2021 tax year (42 applications approved, 24 denied, $14,793 in refunds) and the 2020 tax year (26 approved, one def nied, $7,843 in refunds). Statewide, the Depart- ment of Revenue approved 8,813 of the 9,943 applications it re- ceived for the 2022 tax year and issued refunds of approximately $8.2 million. Dalton Banks, who represents District 26 in the House of Re 7 resentatives, is an advocate or SEE ‘PROPERTY TAXES' page 2 Fencing for subdivisions discussed at length at commissioner meeting BY BARBARA ANNE GREENE Paul Thur was rehired as the county's fulltime Airport and Land Planning Manager after an executive session at the Dec. 19 meeting of the Big Horn County Commission. in airport news, Thur noted that in a recent meeting regard? ing the airports it was recom- mended that a commissioner sit on the steering committee for the airport’s master plans. Commis- sion Chairman Bruce Jolley will fill that seat. Thur suggested that the master plan show the proposed WWW.BASINREPUBLICAN-RUSTLER.00M 0 307-568-2458 - E-MAIL: REPORTER82410@GMAIL.COM u SmallTownPapers® Search and Rescue building even though the building is still in the discussion stages. “Just because it goes in there doesn't com- mit anybody to anything," Thur explained. Thur thanked the Commis- sion for the Martin Mercer ap- pointment to the County Airport Board, For land lanning there was a simple sub ivision request that the commissioners approved. There was also some discussion about subdivisions and homes that are in flood zone areas. Commissioner Dave Neves asked for more discussion re- garding fencing for subdivisions within the county. He said “As far as the fencing it says subdivider shall be respon— sible for the construction the pe- rimeter fence on any part of the subdivision that is adjacent to lands upon which livestock can be legally run at large. Unless a perimeter fence already exists or with the adjacent landowner‘s consent that a perimeter fence is not necessary, “ Neves expressed concern that he does not feel that this re quirement should be exempted for small subdivisions as request? ed by the Planning and Zoning Board. Doing so puts a burden on the person(s) with the live— stock. He asked Commissioners Deb Craft and Bruce Jolley their thoughts. Thur stated, “I agree. That was my original take in my pre sentation to the board (P&Z). They went the other way, but I said ‘Hey, if you are a developer, you're going to make money on your property. Otherwise, why SEE ‘OOMMISSIONERS: SUBDIVISION FENCING’ page 2 schools, senior centers and bus drivers. There will be a parent edu- cation push regardin “4-20 day" and festivities that ce ebrate mare ijuana on April 20. Pot is illegal to use in Wyoming and that will be a part of the education along with the health consequences and how to talk to your children about it. Fair board expandsto seven members BY BARBARA ANNE GREENE At their Dec. 19 meeting, the Big Horn County commissioners voted to expand the fair board to seven members. The commissioner filled the three open seats at the Decemv ber meeting, choosing Kelli Mer- cer, who had been serving on the fair board, and new members Tim Allen and Tucker McKim. Ads seeking applicants for the additional two positions will be placed in local newspapers. The pros and cons of having a larger board were discussed. MEDICINEWHEEL Former commissioner Keith Grant appeared before the com- missioners to express his con~ cems regarding possible chang— es to the Historic Preservation Plan (HPP). He gave a background on why he is so passionate about the Wheel. Grant said as a young man his Boy Scout troop would go there to put the rocks back in place. “We were told at the time that the reason folks threw the rocks around was because there was a rumor that the Little Peoe ple came up through the cave in the mountain, and put jewels and gold under the rocks in the Medicine Wheel.“ He added that he worked on the Crow Reservation in 1960. He visited with the man who was the chairman of the Crow Tribe at that time. The chairman said this about the Wheel. “Oh bad medicine. Little people. Stay away. Stay away.“ During a fire on the moun- tain in 1988, Grant said a native fire crew came in and said they had discovered the Wheel that must have been made by their ancestors. In 1996 the Forest Service “came up with the HPP and gave the area to the native Amerie cans along with 18,000 acres in consultation area. The Native Americans were bound and de- termined that 18,000 acres was going to be a national landmark." Grant added that the town of Lovell had already made a nae tional landmark there with 68 acres, , In 2008 Big Horn County agreed to a bigger land margin if it was agreed that nothing would change without the consultation of all involved parties. He became concerned about what he read in minutes from a Wheel meeting on August 12, 2023. One of his concerns was about paying the Native Ameriv cans again to come to the meet- ings so there would be more participation. According to Grant in 2000 the expenses of the Native Americans and their families were paid when they came to a meeting in Billings. He protested then that if one party was paid to come then all the parties exA pense should be paid. The prac- tice stopped then. Grant pointed out some in- consistencies in the HPP about the closure of the road that runs SEE ‘DOMMISSIONERS: MEDICINE WHEEL’ page 2 .Iillu “will in 2 , OCR Text: v v moresmmowwmn 115ESUBJEETTDLICENSEAGREEMENT REPaowcnoN msssuwmw STORAGE mswawownomawsn BRR Big Horn County’s Longest Running Newspaper s we ALLEDNTENTCDPVWGHTED ALL moHTsaEsEavED THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024 134TH YEAR ISSUE NO. 31 $1 RB AS not*******************MIXED ADC 826 3GB 7T 627 00-00700 SMALL TOWN PAPERS 927 W RAILROAD AVE SHELTON WA 98584—3847 ll ## “Illlllllllll Illll ||||||llulllui|mlll.lllulllmlr|l|"|l| bucan Rustler New phone number for free mental health sessions BY BARBARA ANNE GREENE The phone number for Big Horn County residents wanting free mental health sessions has changed. County prevention spe- cialist Travis Sylvester updated the commissioners at their Dec. 19 meeting. The new phone number is 307- 777-8788. The free sessions are for me ag, farming and rodeo com— munin‘es in the county, which as Sylvester points out, is just about every resident. “it’s incredible... six free sessions," he said, “That's the thing we hear all the time. The stigma. People don't want to walk into a mental health clinic. Then also concerns of cost. Six free ses- sions can go a long way," Sylvester also shared that the BHC Prevention Alliance is hosting a mental health night at a Rocky MountaineLovell basketball game. A bingo game is planned. He said the night would be in partnership with the North Big Horn Hospital The updated goal for the coune ty prevention is to go where the people are, If this mental health night goes well, they will likely do one at a Basin-Greybull game and then at a Burlington game. The Big Horn County Preven- tion Coalition is working with Syl- vester to provide NARCAN train? ing. The first responders will be one of the oups trained. He is a ways working on pro- viding mental health training for FROSTY WALK and Wm" Canine com anions enjoy a brisk walk along an irrigation canal in the early morning hours last month. While temps have been . unseasonab y warmer around the basin, cooler weather is possibly on the way for this weekend, Big Horn County taxpayers received nearly $90,000 in property tax refunds last year BY NATHAN OSTER At a time of soaring proper? ty values, a key question facing Big Horn County residents and their elected leaders as 2024 be- gins is what, if anything, can be done to provide relief to those who struggle to meet their prop? erty tax payment obligation. Property tax relief was a hot topic at last year's legislative ses- sion, and then a ain last month when count of cials, including Niki Vigil, t e country treasur~ er, and Anderson, met with state legislators. Vigil said her office heard from many county residents who were frustrated over their rising property tax bills and spent con~ siderable time directing them to the relief program administered by the state and helping them with their applications. To be eligible for the refund program, for which applications were due by June 5, 2023, prop- erty owners must have lived in the state for five years and oc» cupied their home at least nine of the 12 months last year, have household incomes of $96,888 or less along with $150,000 or less in assets and have aid their 2022 pro erty taxes in ull. Those who qua ified were eligible to re? ceive up to 50% of their property taxes refunded from the state of Wyomin . “Ultimately, the decision fall to the state whether or not they qualify," said Vigil. Many did, according to a re- port from the Wyoming Depart- ment of Revenue. For tax year 2022, the revenue department reported that of the 173 appli* cations received from Big Horn County, 154 were approved and only 19 were denied. The total amount issued to Big Horn Coun* ty property owners amounted to $70,724, with the avera e refund totaling approximately 5459. All of those figures far sur- passed the Big Horn County toe tals from the 2021 tax year (42 applications approved, 24 denied, $14,793 in refunds) and the 2020 tax year (26 approved, one def nied, $7,843 in refunds). Statewide, the Depart- ment of Revenue approved 8,813 of the 9,943 applications it re- ceived for the 2022 tax year and issued refunds of approximately $8.2 million. Dalton Banks, who represents District 26 in the House of Re 7 resentatives, is an advocate or SEE ‘PROPERTY TAXES' page 2 Fencing for subdivisions discussed at length at commissioner meeting BY BARBARA ANNE GREENE Paul Thur was rehired as the county's fulltime Airport and Land Planning Manager after an executive session at the Dec. 19 meeting of the Big Horn County Commission. in airport news, Thur noted that in a recent meeting regard? ing the airports it was recom- mended that a commissioner sit on the steering committee for the airport’s master plans. Commis- sion Chairman Bruce Jolley will fill that seat. Thur suggested that the master plan show the proposed WWW.BASINREPUBLICAN-RUSTLER.00M 0 307-568-2458 - E-MAIL: REPORTER82410@GMAIL.COM u SmallTownPapers® Search and Rescue building even though the building is still in the discussion stages. “Just because it goes in there doesn't com- mit anybody to anything," Thur explained. Thur thanked the Commis- sion for the Martin Mercer ap- pointment to the County Airport Board, For land lanning there was a simple sub ivision request that the commissioners approved. There was also some discussion about subdivisions and homes that are in flood zone areas. Commissioner Dave Neves asked for more discussion re- garding fencing for subdivisions within the county. He said “As far as the fencing it says subdivider shall be respon— sible for the construction the pe- rimeter fence on any part of the subdivision that is adjacent to lands upon which livestock can be legally run at large. Unless a perimeter fence already exists or with the adjacent landowner‘s consent that a perimeter fence is not necessary, “ Neves expressed concern that he does not feel that this re quirement should be exempted for small subdivisions as request? ed by the Planning and Zoning Board. Doing so puts a burden on the person(s) with the live— stock. He asked Commissioners Deb Craft and Bruce Jolley their thoughts. Thur stated, “I agree. That was my original take in my pre sentation to the board (P&Z). They went the other way, but I said ‘Hey, if you are a developer, you're going to make money on your property. Otherwise, why SEE ‘OOMMISSIONERS: SUBDIVISION FENCING’ page 2 schools, senior centers and bus drivers. There will be a parent edu- cation push regardin “4-20 day" and festivities that ce ebrate mare ijuana on April 20. Pot is illegal to use in Wyoming and that will be a part of the education along with the health consequences and how to talk to your children about it. Fair board expandsto seven members BY BARBARA ANNE GREENE At their Dec. 19 meeting, the Big Horn County commissioners voted to expand the fair board to seven members. The commissioner filled the three open seats at the Decemv ber meeting, choosing Kelli Mer- cer, who had been serving on the fair board, and new members Tim Allen and Tucker McKim. Ads seeking applicants for the additional two positions will be placed in local newspapers. The pros and cons of having a larger board were discussed. MEDICINEWHEEL Former commissioner Keith Grant appeared before the com- missioners to express his con~ cems regarding possible chang— es to the Historic Preservation Plan (HPP). He gave a background on why he is so passionate about the Wheel. Grant said as a young man his Boy Scout troop would go there to put the rocks back in place. “We were told at the time that the reason folks threw the rocks around was because there was a rumor that the Little Peoe ple came up through the cave in the mountain, and put jewels and gold under the rocks in the Medicine Wheel.“ He added that he worked on the Crow Reservation in 1960. He visited with the man who was the chairman of the Crow Tribe at that time. The chairman said this about the Wheel. “Oh bad medicine. Little people. Stay away. Stay away.“ During a fire on the moun- tain in 1988, Grant said a native fire crew came in and said they had discovered the Wheel that must have been made by their ancestors. In 1996 the Forest Service “came up with the HPP and gave the area to the native Amerie cans along with 18,000 acres in consultation area. The Native Americans were bound and de- termined that 18,000 acres was going to be a national landmark." Grant added that the town of Lovell had already made a nae tional landmark there with 68 acres, , In 2008 Big Horn County agreed to a bigger land margin if it was agreed that nothing would change without the consultation of all involved parties. He became concerned about what he read in minutes from a Wheel meeting on August 12, 2023. One of his concerns was about paying the Native Ameriv cans again to come to the meet- ings so there would be more participation. According to Grant in 2000 the expenses of the Native Americans and their families were paid when they came to a meeting in Billings. He protested then that if one party was paid to come then all the parties exA pense should be paid. The prac- tice stopped then. Grant pointed out some in- consistencies in the HPP about the closure of the road that runs SEE ‘DOMMISSIONERS: MEDICINE WHEEL’ page 2 .Iillu “will in 2 , Z ArchiveInABox,Historic Photos & Documents,Documents,OCR Testing,Test Files,BAR01042024P01.jpg, BAR01042024P01.jpg