Watching out for you since 1904
Gillette News Record Sunday MORNING, Dec. 1, 2019 S $2.00 S GILLETTENEWSRECORD.COM
CAUSE AND EFFECT
A local sixth grader devotes herself to helping others, A8 GOOD BEHAVIOR School hands out points for doing what’s right, B1
ANOTHER KOBE? Pronghorns standout already making a name, D1
At least 6 inches of snow falls But it was the wind that made it worse By KATHY BROWN NEWS RECORD SENIOR WRITER kbrown@gillettenewsrecord.net
It’s only snowed 19 times on the last day of November in the past 119 years of Gillette’s history. But the snowstorm that struck the community Saturday packed a wallop as it created blizzard-like conditions, almost all which lived up to the forecast. The snow and winds combined to create major snowdrifts and make traffic difficult on roads in and outside of Gillette. The community received at least 6 inches of snow, according to the lone report made to the National Weather Service’s Rapid City office at 9:49 a.m. Saturday just 2 miles from the downtown area. That’s what David King, director of the Campbell County Emergency Management, also estimated. While the weather was as advertised, it didn’t create day-long whiteout conditions because the wind didn’t reach levels the forecasters predicted. As a result, King didn’t have to open an operations center for emergencies or to help stranded drivers since highways and roads in the area remained open, unlike much of Wyoming (see related story on Page A6). But the wind still took a toll. The ice before the snow was Friday’s battle. On Saturday, the wind was the biggest problem for snowplows because it caused drifting and made crews repeat clearing areas they had already cleared, said city spokesman Geno Palazarri. Conditions on Friday, with freezing drizzle, actually kept emergency responders hopping more than the conditions did Saturday, King said. “It was much worse yesterday,” he said Saturday. “Today was not anywhere near what it was like yesterday. We didn’t get the winds like they said. … The snow still was moving around, though. “I’m sure it was a disappointing shopping weekend for some,” King said. “It’s one of those things. This was well advertised.”
Record setting If the official weather records show Gillette received 6 inches of snow Saturday, as expected, it’s a record breaker for the day in the community. The snowfall record for Nov. 30 in Gillette — 5.1 inches — was set in See STORM, Page A1
News Record Photo/August Frank
Customers struggle past the heavy blowing snow and piles while shopping on Gillette Avenue on Saturday.
WEATHER, A2 HIGH 29 LOW 24 ■■■
News Record Photos/August Frank
Officer Andy Lucus gives his canine partner Bruno some pets as they watch a hotel room during their shift on Friday.
‘One big game’ K-9s only work for 5 to 8 years, but each one leaves an indelible mark on their partners and the community By JONATHAN GALLARDO NEWS RECORD WRITER jgallardo@gillettenewsrecord.net
Camo walked through the hallways of the Campbell County jail on Tuesday night, tail wagging, ears pinned back against his head. He walked alongside his handler, Officer Ryan Mussell. Camo, a 5-year-veteran with the Gillette Police Department, had spent the last few hours in Mussell’s patrol car, waiting for an assignment. The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous tip that there were drugs somewhere in the jail. Detention officers cleared out the blocks, and Mussell walked through each cell, making sure there wasn’t anything sharp. Camo lay on the floor, his head following Mussell’s every move. Mussell then gave Camo the go-ahead to begin sniffing. He led the dog on his leash as Camo sniffed over and under beds and around bookshelves. Most of Camo’s drug sniffs last a few seconds. Tuesday night, he was in the jail for nearly an hour, sniffing through a couple of dozen cells. He started panting, and he stood up to get a drink from a sink in one of the cells. He didn’t find any drugs. When he was done, he hopped into the car, ready for a little bit of rest before his next assignment. For the detention officers, Camo was a welcome change to the routine. Even some of the jail’s temporary residents were excited to see the dog. “Thank you for your service,” one inmate said. “Can he stay with us?” another asked. It’s like this wherever Camo goes, Mussell said. “He’s the star of the show,” he said.
MERRY CLICKMAS: Black Friday
online sales hit record $7.4 billion, A5
Bruno wags his tail in anticipation, waiting for Officer Andy Lucas to throw his toy on Friday.
He’s always alert, even at home Camo is one of six K-9 units working in Gillette between the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and the Gillette Police Department. Both departments have been active over the years in ensuring that there are K-9s to work potential crime scenes in the community. But the K-9 teams are more than just work partners. Mussell sees Camo more than his own family. When he starts getting ready for work, Camo wags his tail, ready for another workday. “For him, it’s all one big game,” Mussell said. “It’s based on rewards
and things like that. When he finds that drug odor, he thinks he’s finding his toy.” Even when Camo’s at home, he’s always alert, waiting for his next task. When Mussell responded to a domestic dispute at a motel Tuesday night, Camo sat in the car, whining occasionally, pacing back and forth, waiting for his handler to return. “When I walk back to the car, I always see the dog ears, looking out the window, looking for me,” he said. “I love that.” Most K-9s work for five to eight See ‘ONE BIG GAME’, Page A8
INSIDE BLOTTER, A2 CLASSIFIEDS, E2-E4 OBITUARIES, A4
OPINION, A3 WYOMING, C1-C3 SPORTS, D1-D4 ■■■