Interchange – April 2021

Interchange April 2021

Vol. 49, Iss. 4

WYDOT employees battled winter storm in March

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Nebraska DOT provided help in southeast portion of the state

Historic weather event puts maintainers to the test

By Aimee Inama It was all hands on deck during the historic two-day snowstorm that started March 13.

Relentless, driving snow, massive snowdrifts that stretched for miles and blowing snow created conditions unseen for years in the southern and southeastern part of Wyoming.

Employees in Maintenance, Highway Patrol, the Transportation Management Center, along with crews from other districts and other WYDOT employees

worked around the clock to clear the roads, assist motorists or provide support for those on the front lines.

But a broken motor grader being used between Pine Bluffs and Cheyenne could have derailed WYDOT’s efforts in the southeastern part of the state if it weren’t for the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Nebraska DOT offered equipment and crews to help support WYDOT’s on I-80 in southeast Wyoming.

“We are grateful to our Nebraska

Clearing feet of snow from the driving lanes of I-80.

neighbors for helping us out during this historic weather event,” said WYDOT Director K. Luke Reiner. “Most importantly, we are proud of the men and women of WYDOT who worked tirelessly during the storm to ensure the safety of the traveling public. Crews from all around the state sent needed personnel and equipment to help with snow removal efforts in southeast Wyoming. They came together to ensure we met our mission. We are truly one WYDOT and we have some of Winter storm continued on page 7

Contents

Interchange Vol. 49, Issue 4

Features

Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents.

Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to: Carlie Van Winkle, Interchange editor 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340 or send an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

1 WYDOT employees battle winter storm in March Nebraska DOT provided help in southeast part of state

12 Column: Employee memorial at Headquarters New name to be added; first time since 2004

14 WYDOT employees help find missing dog Zoey, a Chihuahua mix had fallen into a window well

WYDOT Director:

Also in this issue

K. Luke Reiner

District briefs..................................................................................................3 By the Numbers..............................................................................................3 Letters.............................................................................................................6 Game & Fish..................................................................................................10 Employee Safety........................................................................................... 13 Training.........................................................................................................16 District news................................................................................................. 17 Passings........................................................................................................ 19 Outdoors.......................................................................................................20 Break Time....................................................................................................23

Kindly recycle this publication after reading.

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Staff Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee

Editor: Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors: Aimee Inama Carlie Van Winkle Jordan Achs Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Laura Dalles Cody Beers Sgt. Jeremy Beck

Public Affairs Public Affairs District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Patrol

Photography: Rick Carpenter

Public Affairs

Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/wydot.pao or click on the link found on the employee’s internal website home page.

A WYDOT PUBLICATION

District Briefs Headquarters

Commission awards $19.3 million in contracts in March CHEYENNE – Construction crews will resurface a section of Interstate 90 between Moorcroft and Sundance in Crook County to improve the road surface.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded a $7.1 million contract to Simon Contractors, of Cheyenne, for work on 7.5 miles of I-90 in the eastbound and westbound lanes. The commission awarded that and seven other contracts totaling $19.3 million at its recent meeting.

For the I-90 work, crews will perform a mill and overlay to the surface and make repairs to the bridges as part of a pavement preservation project. The contract completion date for the work is July 31, 2022.

Besides the I-90 work, the other contracts the commission awarded included other resurfacing work, sign work and patching work.

Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, was the low bidder on a $4.8 million resurfacing project on US 191 between Rock Springs and Farson in Sweetwater County.

Crews will mill and level the road and then put an overlay and chip seal on it.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is doing the work to improve the surface and extend the life of the pavement.

The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2021.

The commission awarded Kilgore Co., of Rock Springs, a $2.4 million contract for patch work at various locations in Lincoln, Sublette and Uinta counties.

Crews will mill out sections of road that are in need of repair and repave those sections. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2021.

Reiman Corp., of Cheyenne, won a $1.9 million bridge rehabilitation contract for work on several bridges in Big Horn, Fremont and Washakie counties.

Crews will repair issues with the bridg-

es and will replace guardrail. The contract completion date is Nov. 30, 2021.

Also awarded by the commission were contracts for: • $889,684 to S & L Industrial, of Cowley, for a sign contract at various locations in Laramie and Platte counties

by Nov. 30, 2021; • $748,900 to S & L Industries for a flexible delineator contract at various locations in Big Horn, Fremont, Park and Washakie counties by Nov. 30, 2021;

Total number of employees: As of March 1, 2021

1,924

• $724,183.50 to S & L Industries for a sign contract at various locations in Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston counties by Oct. 31, 2021; and

One month ago

• $616,560 to Highline Fencing, of Powell, for a fence contract at various locations in Big Horn County by Nov. 30, 2021.

One year ago

District 1

WYDOT to start bridge and pavement work on I-80 in west Laramie LARAMIE – I-80 through Laramie is going to be a cone zone this summer as the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Reiman Corp. are scheduled to begin a construction project there on March 29, weather permitting.

Work will take place between the Third Street and Curtis Street interchanges (mileposts 310-313) in both the eastbound and westbound lanes. Crews will be replacing concrete slabs and placing a high performance wearing course, which helps preserve the new pavement and gives better traction.

In addition to the pavement work, crews will be completing bridge rehabilitation work along multiple structures within the project area, including the structures over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks as well as the structures crossing the Laramie River. Each rehabilitated bridge will receive either an epoxy or latex overlay, which also helps with traction and preservation.

1,920 1,978

WHP Total number of highway fatalities: As of March 16, 2021

18

One year ago

12

Briefs continued on page 4

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Briefs continued from page 3 Motorists on the interstate should expect lane closures, speed limit reductions and construction activity near the highway, especially around each structure.

Local traffic may want to consider alternative routes to avoid construction-related delays, including using Snowy Range Road or Curtis Street.

Recreationists using the Laramie River Greenbelt Trail may encounter construction activity near where it and the Laramie River cross under the interstate.

Stay alert and use caution.

WYDOT to complete bridge work in five locations around Laramie County CHEYENNE – Crews with S&S Builders LLC and the Wyoming Department of Transportation will be working on a bridge rehabilitation project spanning five locations around Laramie County this construction season.

Weather permitting, crews will begin the project on March 29 with the structure crossing Crow Creek on US 30/Lincolnway, near its intersection with Missile Drive at about mile marker 361.5.

Both eastbound and westbound traffic on Lincolnway will be restricted to one lane, and a portion of Missile Drive will be closed to through traffic while crews work. A detour will be in place using 19th Street, Snyder Avenue and Westland Road. Motorists should expect potential delays through this area.

As part of the project, crews will also be working on the I-80 structure over Southwest Drive (milepost 360) near the I-25 interchange, a structure on US 85/ South Greeley Highway near Allison Road (milepost 7.74), a railroad structure on WYO 213 in Burns (milepost 2.61), and a railroad structure on WYO 215 just outside of Pine Bluffs (milepost 0.22).

Work involves various bridge maintenance activities, including approach slab repairs, joint modifications and other work. Most structures will also receive a latex or epoxy overlay, which helps with vehicle traction and structure preservation.

Crews may move work from one loca-

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tion to another based on project progress, weather conditions, material and equipment availability and other factors. To limit prolonged traffic impacts in busy areas, crews may remove traffic control devices until they can return to complete the next phase of work.

Motorists through any of the above project areas should stay alert for potential construction activity during the coming months. In any cone zone, be sure to obey posted speed limits, pay attention to potential lane closures and expect delays.

This project is expected to be complete in late fall 2021. Many of these locations will have width restrictions in place while crews work.

Bridge and pavement work underway on I-80 near Sinclair RAWLINS – Construction season in Carbon County is officially underway as the Wyoming Department of Transportation begins a multi-year project on I-80 east of Sinclair, between mile markers 221-227.5.

Crews with McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. started initial bridge work this week on the Wyoming Highway 76 interchange overpass structure near mile marker 221 on I-80.

Work planned for the structure this summer includes minor bridge repairs, construction of a retaining wall at the bridge corners, approach slab replacement, epoxy overlays and other maintenance and preservation work.

Motorists should expect potential delays as traffic lights guide one lane of traffic at a time across the structure. There is also a 12-foot width restriction on WYO 76 until the bridge work is completed.

Construction activity will start impacting traffic on I-80 as early as March 29, when McGarvin-Moberly crews will start placing barriers and building the interstate crossovers. Once in place, traffic will move in a head-to-head configuration in the westbound lanes while the eastbound lanes are milled and paved.

Once paving work in the eastbound lanes is complete, crews will switch the traffic configuration to do the same work on the westbound lanes.

Motorists on the interstate should

adhere to construction zone speed limits and stay alert for traffic shifts into and out of the crossovers. Delays are possible due to the traffic configuration. A 16-foot width restriction will be in place for interstate traffic during this project.

Project scheduling is subject to change due to weather conditions and material and equipment availability.

This project is expected to be complete in early 2022 and has a budget of approximately $7.8 million.

WHP and Laramie County Fire District No. 2 held child seat check station CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Highway Patrol and Laramie County Fire District #2 hosted a free child seat safety check station on March 20 at Laramie County Fire District No. 2, Station One, located at 5800 North College Drive in Cheyenne.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 59% of child seats are incorrectly installed in a vehicle.

The event was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and child seats were available at no cost on a limited basis. Troopers and firefighters also checked for proper installation if a child seat was already installed but were unsure if it was installed correctly.

Pursuit ends north of Cheyenne CHEYENNE – On March 12 troopers located a vehicle matching a suspect’s description in a recent domestic violence incident.

The trooper located the suspect vehicle in the area of milepost seven on I-25 and attempted to stop the car. The driver failed to stop and fled from the trooper.

The driver drove north on I-25 at excessive speed, failing to stop. Several miles north of Cheyenne, the fleeing driver drove into the opposite lanes of travel colliding with a southbound commercial tractor-trailer.

The driver of the fleeing vehicle was ejected during the collision and suc-

cumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash.

The driver of the commercial tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash.

District 2

Yellowstone Highway Bridge rehab project underway CASPER – A bridge deck replacement project is underway on Casper’s east side.

Reiman Corp. has completed the removal of the westbound concrete deck atop the Old Yellowstone Highway (US 20/26/87) bridge over I-25.

A new westbound deck will be poured prior to work beginning on the bridge’s eastbound lanes. All work is expected to be completed by the end of September.

Cole Creek Road speed limit reduction CASPER – Beginning March 10 travelers on WYO 256 (Cole Creek Road) encountered a speed limit reduction put in effect for a portion of the highway between milepost 0 and milepost 2.

The change will lower the current speed limit for both directions of traffic to 45 mph through this area, which extends from US 20/26/87 (Old Glenrock Highway) to just north of Alexander Road. This is a continuation of the 45 mph speed limit already in place on Hat Six Road, just south of the Old Glenrock Highway.

WYDOT will have portable message devices in the area to remind drivers of the speed limit change. Please obey all posted speed limit signs.

Watch for wildlife on roads after recent winter storms CASPER – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking for the public’s cooperation concerning big game animals affected by the recent winter storm. In particular, areas around Casper, Glenrock and Douglas have experienced very heavy wet snow.

Deep snow and limited access to food

sources have forced pronghorn and deer to use plowed roads to move to areas with less snow. Despite warming up during the day, this moisture-laden snow is freezing solid each night, which has made it nearly impossible for many animals, especially pronghorn antelope, to access forage or just move around. Now they’re turning to the plowed roadways in order to move to areas with less snow. Unfortunately, this also means vehicles have been hitting wildlife more often, and in some cases, several big game animals have been hit at the same time. Game and Fish is asking everyone to slow down, be extra vigilant for wildlife and give these animals a break.

Game and Fish also reminds residents to avoid feeding these animals because it can result in serious health problems for them and conflicts with humans. Artificial feeding tends to concentrate animals together, which is a rich environment for the transmission of diseases such as chronic wasting disease.

“When animals are struggling through winter on poor feed, their immune systems are weakened, allowing diseases and parasites to take hold,” said Justin Binfet, Wildlife Management coordinator for the Game and Fish Department’s Casper Region.

In addition, mule deer in particular cannot digest food sources outside their normal diet when they are suddenly fed.

Feeding can also result in high concentrations of deer in localized areas resulting in damage to residential landscaping, which can cause further conflicts with neighbors.

Severe winter storms can take a toll on big game animals, and it’s not uncommon for some individuals to succumb to the conditions.

“Despite having a fairly mild winter to date, we expect some mortality from late-winter storms for a couple of reasons,” Binfet said. “The snow is wet and heavy, and in this case, freezing solid at night, which makes it hard for these animals to move around. Also, by midMarch they’ve already struggled through several months of winter and have lost much of their body fat. Unfortunately, some are inevitably going to die, but feeding them is not the answer. In the end, it does more harm than good.”

District 3

Pursuit ends north of Wamsutter WAMSUTTER – A Helena, Montana resident, is in custody following a pursuit that took place March 15.

Around 2:40 p.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was manning a road closure gate and noticed a Ford truck drive around it. The trooper attempted to stop the truck, but the driver failed to stop.

WHP troopers pursued the truck east on I-80 toward Wamsutter. The driver fled from law enforcement at speeds near 100 miles per hour. The vehicle’s driver crossed into opposite lanes of travel on the interstate for a brief time before exiting the roadway. The driver continued to evade, driving upon oilfield roads, two tracks, and through the desert north of Wamsutter. The pursuit changed travel direction multiple times before the vehicle became stuck in a snowbank. The driver was taken into custody without further incident.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as a 37-year-old Helena, Montana resident Michael R. Harriell.

Harriell was charged with fleeing to elude, property damage, reckless driving, reckless endangering, driving on a closed road and speeding.

The Sweetwater County Sheriff ’s Department assisted with this incident.

District 5

Major concrete pour with single-lane traffic on Greybull Hill in Cody CODY – Depending on favorable weather, the $4.93 million concrete rehabilitation project on Sheridan Avenue/17th Street is scheduled for a major concrete pour on Greybull Hill.

The March 24-25 concrete pour involves pouring about 500 cubic yards of concrete in 17th Street on Greybull Hill (with delivery coming from about 50 concrete trucks). During the two days of concrete work, a single lane will be open to traffic on Greybull Hill.

Briefs continued on page 6

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Briefs continued from page 5 Weekly outdoor public meetings continue at 9 a.m. every Tuesday at the northwest corner of 17th and Central Avenue. Businesses and citizens are invited to all weekly meetings.

The Sheridan Avenue project (#CodyImprovements) includes removing and replacing existing damaged concrete slabs, resealing existing concrete joints, grinding and texturing existing roadway, upgrading Americans with Disabilities requirements at every street corner between 10th Street and Stampede Avenue, replacing broken curb and gutter and sidewalk, and upgrading wiring at traffic signals.

The project begins at US 14/16/20 milepost 51.78 at the intersection of 10th Street and Sheridan Avenue in front of the Park County Courthouse, and it proceeds 1.20 miles on US 14/16/20 to the 17th Street/Stampede Avenue intersection on Greybull Hill.

Phase 3 of the project, by contract, proceeds from 14th Street up Greybull Hill to the end of the project and must be completed through concrete grinding and texturing prior to June 15. By contract, the project will be shut down from June 16 through Aug. 23.

Phase 4 of the project, by contract, requires all remaining work to be com-

pleted by the contract completion date of Sept. 30.

Lander Main Street concrete repair, pavement overlay work LANDER – Work began March 22 at the Main Street/Buena Vista intersection on the $6.89 million Lander concrete rehabilitation project and US 287 pavement overlay.

The $6.89 million US 287 (Lander Main Street Americans with Disabilities Act improvements and concrete rehabilitation, and US 287 pavement overlay) project is 16.2 miles in length, between the Main Street/Buena Vista intersection in Lander and Ft. Washakie. The project includes concrete grinding, concrete joint sealing, asphalt paving, chip sealing, and curb, gutter and ADA ramp repairs.

The contractor’s preliminary work schedule shows work mostly complete by the middle of July.

Weekly public work progress meetings are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 25, at the southwest corner of the Main Street/2nd Street intersection in downtown Lander. Citizens and businesses are invited to attend the weekly work

progress meetings.

“By contract, project work is required to be phased so that 2-way traffic is maintained on half of the roadway at all times,” Smith said. “There will be some intersection disruptions and lane closures during this quick-moving project. A large percentage of the project includes pavement work (milling and a pavement overlay) between mileposts 10 (near US 287’s intersection with WYO 132) and 24.17 (Ft. Washakie).”

US 14/16/20 single-lane closure at Cody tunnels CODY – A single-lane traffic closure occurred March 10 at the tunnels west of Cody on US 14/16/20.

“Lighting and structural inspections took place between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation district traffic engineer Jack Hoffman of Basin.

Traffic control during the single-lane closure was handled by Cody’s WYDOT maintenance crew.

Drivers encountered a 20 mph speed limit through the tunnels during the lighting and structural inspections, and traffic was led through the tunnels by a pilot vehicle. n

Letters Clear communication at Motor Vehicle Services Hi Shannon, I just want to drop you a line to let you know how much I appreciated all of your help.

It was customer service at its finest!

I truly appreciated the fact that you took it upon yourself to investigate and call the Albany County Treasurer’s office and in working with Sunny, corrected the situation, handled the call to E-470 and clearly communicated to Sunny that nothing further was needed from me.

Sunny was also very helpful and she phoned me rather than me having to call their office again. I can’t tell you how much the clear communication and the “no runaround” approach meant to me. As I stated before, this is what the model of customer service should be!

Thank you so much for your assistance.

Warm Regards, Kathleen Eberhart 6 Interchange

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Kudos to the road crews Huge thanks to all the road crews and supporting staff that brave any element and keep the roads moving.

Nothing flows, especially EMS, without the folks in the plow rigs and the supporting crews in dispatch, mechanics, logistics, etc.

Dan via email

Drove home yesterday (March 16) right after the roads opened. Drove on I-25. Thank you for all your hard work. With the amounts of snow piled up on the side of the road, I could tell that was extremely difficult to clear.

Thank you for your hard work. Driving home was a piece of cake.

Rose Fry

Winter storm continued from front cover

Photo: Rick Carpenter

the finest employees in the country.”

As the storm moved through Wyoming, parts of the state reported 30-plus inches of heavy, wet snow. Windy conditions, coupled with lower temperatures, made for a harder snowpack and challenging plowing conditions.

Crews began work as soon as the snow started to fly by clearing the roads and putting anti-skid materials down to improve traction.

Soon, however, the storm would gain traction and create conditions which caused interstates 25, 80, 90 and other secondary roads to close. Interstates 25 and 80 closed at various times from March 10 through 17 while I-90 closed in parts on March 16.

Additionally, there was a report of at least one vehicle that attempted to travel during the wintry conditions, which caused the interstate to close west of Cheyenne.

In southeast Wyoming, a motor grader broke, which could have caused further delays reopening of I-80 if it weren’t for the help of the Nebraska DOT. Tim Morton, District 1 District Maintenance engineer, said he was contacted by his counterpart

Photo: Rick Carpenter

WHP out and about during the storm.

Snow is piled high on each side of I-80 as plow trucks clear the driving lanes.

in Nebraska, John Lutz, about the situation in Wyoming.

“We were having some equipment issues and were down a motor grader so Nebraska offered to help us out,” Morton said.

“We told Nebraska we would definitely want their help so they organized it on their end with Brian Erickson, our Pine Bluffs crew leader. They supplemented our Pine Bluffs crew.”

Erickson and his crew worked with the Nebraska crew on a plan to remove the snow along Interstate 80 near Pine Bluffs.

Crews from Nebraska brought a rotary plow and a couple of motor graders and worked with WYDOT crews to remove snow.

“When we were doing snow removal, we would lead with the motor grader and then follow with our plows,” Erickson said.

“The snow was just so heavy and deep that it was too hard to push with a regular truck, which is why we were using the motor grader.”

Nebraska crews started in the westbound lanes in the evening

on Monday, March 15. After switching out crews, they then worked to clear the eastbound lanes.

“If they wouldn’t have come out and helped us, the interstate probably would have been closed longer because of our motor grader being down,” Erickson said.

Tom DeHoff, assistant chief engineer - Operations, said the work WYDOT crews did with Nebraska’s assistance showed how surrounding states can help each other out.

“With the help of Nebraska in the southeast part of the state, we were able to get our roads open as quickly as possible,” DeHoff said. “We appreciate their assistance and are thankful to our neighbors to the east. Our crews also did a phenomenal job. They were out there day and night clearing the snow during this event.

Our maintainers are second to none and they are the reason why our roads remain as open as possible and in such good condition during the winter.”

Employees in WYDOT’s Maintenance, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Patrol Dispatch, the Transportation Management Center and all throughout the organization either worked the front lines or worked behind the scenes to ensure the department continued to function at optimum levels.

Many employees worked longer shifts to ensure WYDOT’s mission of providing a safe and effective transportation system never failed.

With roads choked with heavy, wet snow, some of the maintenance crews couldn’t get in for their shifts. In those cases, the maintainers who were already plowing would take rest breaks and then get back out on the road to continue plowing operations.

Erickson said he rented hotel rooms in Pine Bluffs to ensure his crew had a place to sleep. Many on his crew have to drive into Pine Bluffs and the hotel rooms ensured they had a place to sleep and rest instead of trying to drive back home in poor conditions.

“We were putting in long hours during the storm and I wanted to make sure my crew had a place to get some rest,” Erickson said.

Similar stories have been told throughout the area as well with crews getting some well-needed rest in between working the roads.

Besides thanking Nebraska, Morton said he wanted to recWinter storm continued on page 8

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Photo: Rick Carpenter

Front loaders clearing I-80 at the summit.

Photo: WYDOT/Jeff Goetz

ognize Laramie County for its assistance during this and other storms. Whenever Laramie County maintenance starts plowing operations on county roads, they use their v-plows as soon as they head out of their building, which could mean cutting the first path on I-80 or other state roads they use to get to the county roads.

“Laramie County did us a favor as well by cutting that first path,” Morton said. “We’re grateful for the work all of our crews and employees did as well as the assistance we received from outside of WYDOT.” WYDOT’s 511 website also was used heavily during the winter storm. Between March 13 through the 17, there were 68 million hits to the text pages of wyoroad.info. There were also 32 million hits to the map for a total of 100 million hits to the wyoroad.info website.

At one point, the website was getting about 1,700 hits per second.

“Our wyoroad.info website is a vital tool for the traveling

Plowing efforts on US 26 at the Dwyer Junction closure gate.

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Photo: Rick Carpenter

public to get almost real-time information about road conditions, closures and other road information,” said Vince Garcia, manager of WYDOT’s Geographic Information Systems/Intelligent Transportation Systems program. “We are pleased that the website is there for the public and we can provide that information as a resource for travelers to make informed decisions about whether or not they should travel in certain conditions.”

The following are the names of the Nebraska DOT employees who helped during the storm. They are: • Doug Sick – Sidney • Kyle Cochran – Sidney • Thomas Schmidt – Sidney • Kirk Gawith – Kimball • Joey Muhr – Gering • Steve Anest, Sydney • Lynn Hayden, Kimball • Taylor Kokes, Sydney • Ben Birdsley, Sydney n

Winter storm continued from page 7

Nebraska Department of Transportation rotary plow helping the plowing effort on I-80 in southeast Wyoming.

Photo: WYDOT/Jeff Goetz

Photo: WYDOT/Laura Dalles

I-25 at the Glenrock interchange in District 2.

Casper Mountain.

I-25 southbound near Cheyenne.

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: Rick Carpenter

A v-plow in for refueling.

Photo: WYDOT/Jeff Goetz

Photo: WYDOT/Laura Dalles

A view from the inside of a rotary plow in District 4 on I-25.

I-80 cleanup nearly complete.

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Game & Fish Zebra mussels found in several Wyoming pet stores

By Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game & Fish An invasive mussel that poses a serious threat to Wyoming’s natural resources and water systems has been found in a number of pet stores across the state. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in a variety of moss balls, a product sold at many aquarium and pet supply stores. Game and Fish is urging anyone who has this product to carefully dispose of it and aquarium water immediately.

Proper disposal is essential to help mitigate the potentially catastrophic effects mussels could have for the state.

“Zebra mussels are an extremely destructive aquatic invasive species,” said Game and Fish Chief of Fisheries Alan Osterland. “Once they become established in reservoirs, lakes or even city water systems, they wreak havoc.

They remove nutrients from water, clog pipes and waterways, damage boats and out-compete native mussels. Further, in many cases, zebra mussels are impossible to remove and could have costly impacts for Wyoming.”

A moss ball is a popular tank decoration made of a green filamentous algae used to oxygenate the water. It’s important that anyone who has purchased a moss ball closely follow the recommended steps for disposal.

To dispose:

office or local warden.

• Boil the moss balls, plants and any water it’s been in contact with for at least five minutes • Dispose of the moss ball and other plants in trash.

• Pour out the boiled water on a semi-permeable surface. That could be a houseplant or outside — like grass or soil — that is not located near standing water or a storm drain.

Do not flush the moss ball or pour aquarium water down any drains, toilets or into nearby water sources like a local

If so, DO NOT...

Don’t release your aquarium critters or plants into the wild by dumping them in a river or lake.

• Inspect the moss ball and tank for zebra mussels and if you find any contact your local Game and Fish regional

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What?

Moss balls are a popular plant choice for aquariums and decorative displays. But they also can be carriers of zebra mussels, which if detected in Wyoming’s waters, could have catastrophic impacts to the water, the biodiversity of the area, recreation, municipalities and water users.

Why?

Don’t dump the tank water in the toilet, down the sink or in the sewer system.

Moss balls have been found to contain an invasive mussel that would be catastrophic to Wyoming waters. If you have purchased a moss ball, please see instructions below on how to safely dispose of the ball and any water it came in contact with.

If you have a moss ball, please follow these steps to keep Wyoming’s waters free of zebra mussels.

STEP 1

STEP 2 Remove any pets from the water and tank.

STEP 4

STEP 3 Remove the moss ball, other plants and any water from the aquarium and put them into a heat-safe pot. Do not dispose of any water down the drain or toilet.

• Remove any pets from the water and tank.

• Remove the moss ball, other plants and any water from the aquarium and put them into a heat-safe pot. Do not dispose of any water down the drain or toilet.

pond or creek. These actions could spread zebra mussels throughout the water system.

“We are urging folks to take extra precautions and please follow these disposal instructions. It’s essential for our state’s fisheries, wildlife and communities that these steps are followed. It will be key to mitigating the potential impacts Wyoming now faces,” Osterland said.

Anyone who finds zebra mussels in their tank must call the local Game and Fish regional office so a representative can collect the sample. Possessing any aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as zebra mussels, is illegal, and people are

STEP 5 Boil the moss balls, plants and any water it’s been in contact with for at least five minutes.

Inspect the moss ball and tank for zebra mussels and if you find any contact your local Game and Fish regional office.

STEP 6

Dispose of the moss ball and other plants in trash.

Pour out the boiled water on a semipermeable surface. That could be a houseplant or outside — like grass or soil — that is not located near standing water or a storm drain.

Anyone who finds zebra mussels in their tank should call the local Game and Fish regional office so a representative can collect the sample.

required to report the discovery within 48 hours.

Zebra mussels are striped, sized less than 2-inches. They attach to any hard surfaces such as metal, glass, plastic, stone, wood or rocks. They are extremely resistant to cold temperatures and many chemicals. Hot water is the most effective way to kill them and keep them from establishing.

“Even if you can’t see mussels, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there,” Osterland said. “When zebra mussels are in their immature stage, called veligers, they are so small you can’t see them.

But, they can grow in even tiny amounts of water. That is why it is so important for everyone to take precautions.”

Pets and other aquatic animals are not immediately impacted by zebra mussels.

“Pet fish, turtles and the like should be safe; just clean your tanks and follow the disposal instructions for the plants and water,” said Osterland. “Never release your pet into the wild or pour your tank water into a natural water source. This can also spread invasive and other unwanted species.”

Wyoming is one of several states across the US to identify zebra mussels in pet and aquarium stores in connection to moss balls. The department is working closely with other states and federal agencies to address this nationwide issue. Game and Fish is urging any stores to immediately remove this product from shelves and contact their local Game and Fish office.

Zebra mussels have never been identified in a Wyoming water source. Aquatic invasive species, like zebra mussels, quagga mussels, and others, are typically transported on watercraft. Annually, Game and Fish devotes $1.3 million to the AIS prevention program, which includes inspecting and decontaminating boats entering the state and its waters as the first-line for defense for the protecting Wyoming. More information on the prevention of AIS is available on the Game and Fish website.

Safe crossing for wildlife on WYO 789 Wildlife biologists in the Green River Region have been working on projects to help safely move wild ungulates across the Highway 789 corridor. One of those projects involved clearing brush surrounding the two large culverts at Cottonwood Creek to make them as visually open as possible for mule deer traffic in the Baggs Migration Corridor. Earlier in February, Game and Fish personnel, with help from the Little Snake Conservation District and a few volunteers, completed the work. Trail cameras installed by the culverts show mule deer using the culverts. Biologists hope to eventually extend the deer fence along the highway to the north of its existing end point. This culvert “underpass” will become a critical component to that effort.

Migration study continues, 75 animals collared In multiple studies between 2004 and 2017, nearly 600 individual pronghorn from the Sublette pronghorn herd were fitted with GPS satellite tracking collars, bringing to light one of the longest intact big game migration corridors in North America.

Last month, capture crews deployed an additional 75 GPS collars on doe pronghorn in numerous areas across the entirety of the herd. These newly collared animals will provide the fine-scale location data needed to delineate migration routes and reveal important stopover areas where animals stock up on nutrients along the way. The data will also inform managers on where to locate local conservation measures such as fence modifications and improved highway wildlife crossings. n

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Interchange 11

Column

“In memory of state employees who have died while building, maintaining and protecting the Wyoming transportation system”

with speeches by Governor Jim Geringer; Wyoming Commission Chairman Chuck Brown; Director Gene Roccabruna; and Patrol Col. John Cox. Many family members of the deceased were also able to attend and shared stories of their loved ones.

There are currently 37 names on the memorial, which include 27 highway maintenance workers, eight construction workers and two Highway Patrol officers who have died in the line of duty. We will be regretfully adding the 38th name of Shirley A. Samuelson in August. However, I believe that WYDOT has been working diligently to maintain safety as foremost in our profession. Thirty-six of the fatalities were between 1920 and 1998 and thankfully only two employees will have been added to this memorial since 1998 – John E. Boltz in 2004 and Shirley A. Samuelson in 2020.

We are in the process of planning the WYDOT Inaugural National Safety Awareness Week event that is scheduled to be held on April 27, 2021 at 10 a.m. at the site of the WYDOT Employee Memorial. We are hoping to bring public awareness to the dangers that our employees face while working to maintain safe and well maintained public transportation system.

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season that encourages safe driving through highway work zones. The key message is for drivers to use extra caution in work zones. The 2021 NWZAW will be held April 26-30 this year and the 2021 theme “Drive Safe. Work Safe. Save Lives.” You can visit https:// www.nwzaw.org for more information. n

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April 2021

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

By Christina Fisher This is the epitaph engraved on the WYDOT Employee Memorial on the north lawn of the WYDOT Headquarters building.

Sadly, many Cheyenne and Wyoming residents do not know this is here. I will give you a little history about the monument in hopes that you will have a chance to visit the memorial next time you are at the WYDOT Headquarters building in Cheyenne.

The Employee Memorial was created in 1999/2000 as a cooperative effort between the Wyoming Transportation Department Employee Association (WTDEA) and the Fisher Wyoming Highway Patrol Association (WHPA) with the support of the Wyoming Transportation Commission in 1999. Hours of research was completed by Public Affairs Specialist Bruce Burrows, Office Services and Human Resources employees. Selection of the employees to be engraved was up to committee members Desch Peterson, Trooper Ashley Powell – Riverton, and Trooper Legerski – Gillett.

And of course countless hours of help from many other employees.

Great appreciation must also go out to the WYDOT Facility Maintenance employees who have continuously maintained the memorial and surrounding area.

The dedication ceremony was held on June 17, 2000

The memorial stands in a shaded glen on the grounds of the WYDOT Headquarters building in Cheyenne.

Employee Safety

By Geoffrey McPherson As the snow melts the flowers begin to bloom. This also offers the opportunity to perform maintenance and repairs that could not be accomplished during the winter. WYDOT employees will soon begin to enter confined spaces to perform maintenance and repairs. This means that employees must be trained in the requirements of OSHA 1910.146 for confined space and WYDOT’s policy before going into confined spaces.

Did you know that PP 19-10, Confined Space Operations Policy, was updated and published last year? Employee Safety also created a Confined Space Identification and Hazard Evaluation (CSHIE) Permit Package to assist in properly assessing all potential confined spaces. The new policy and the CSHIE helps WYDOT meet the requirements of OSHA 1910.146 and are located on the Employee Safety Intranet page. Employee Safety has scheduled in-person Confined Space training over the next few months for each district and the headquarters. You can access the training schedule on the Employee Safety Intranet page to see when the training is coming to your area.

What is a confined space?

“Confined space” means a space that: • Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; • Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry.); and • Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy for maintenance and repair.

Employees can safely work in a confined space if procedures are in place to protect the employee. What can occur when an employer does not have procedures in place for confined space work nor are the employees trained?

An employer pleaded guilty March 15 to one federal criminal charge for willfully violating an OSHA rule, leading to an employee’s death. Dana Container, the parent company to Dana Railcare, was charged in the U.S. District Court for the Middle

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Safety Flash – Confined Space

Employees at a confined space training in May 2019, prior to the mask wearing mandate, at WYDOT Headquarters.

District of Pennsylvania for its involvement in the death of an employee in a confined space.

The company faces a criminal fine up to $500,000 and up to five years of probation. OSHA investigated the May 2019 incident and found the employee asphyxiated while cleaning crude oil from the inside of the tank car. Inspectors cited the company for willful and serious violations for failing to protect employees from hazards associated with permit-required confined space entry and inadequate respiratory protection procedures. The citation resulted in a $551,226 fine.

This was completely preventable. The employee wouldn’t have lost their life if proper procedures were in place and training received. n

Correction In the March 2021 Interchange, an incorrect diagram was printed in the Employee Safety article.

The Work Zone subcommittee draft of the 45 mph work zone speed reduction diagram was used instead of the adopted diagram. The correct diagram for Typical Speed Reduction on Interstate or Divided Multilane can be found on the intranet in the Traffic Program manual section. n

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Interchange 13

WYDOT employees work together to find lost dog

By Aimee Inama

A sneeze was all it took to save Zoey’s life.

As soon as Donna Juma heard the noise, she immediately thought of the lost little brown and black Chihuahua mix dog.

Several WYDOT employees at headquarters in Cheyenne had been looking for the dog for days after owner Billy Russell asked for help in locating his lost pup.

“I was heading out to my car to grab something and I heard a sneeze,” said Juma, who works as a Fuel Tax auditor at WYDOT. “I had Zoey on my mind since we had been looking for her for days. I went to where I heard the noise and I found Zoey.”

The dog had fallen into one of the deep window wells at WYDOT and Juma found her uninjured.

“I think God was looking out for Zoey,” Juma said. “She was in an area that had a vent that probably kept her warm. We think the vent kept her warm during those cold evenings.”

Zoey’s adventure started after Billy drove from Casper to Cheyenne on Friday, Feb. 5 to conduct routine business at WYDOT’s Motor Vehicle Services.

Billy decided to bring Zoey and her dog brother, Burt, along for company.

After Billy got done at Motor Vehicle Services, he decided to let Zoey and Burt out so they could stretch their legs first before making the trek back to Casper.

“He let the dogs out to run on the grass for a bit,” said Kitty Russell, Billy’s wife. “They had their halters on and they had their leashes on but he let them run on the grass for a bit. I think Zoey might have seen a bird and ran off.”

A heartbroken Billy immediately asked WYDOT employees for help in finding Zoey. Burt had stayed close by and was with Billy.

Soon, employees from Fuel Tax, Highway Safety, Geology and Emergency Communications began searching for Zoey.

However, they couldn’t find the lost dog.

“We were all out looking for Zoey,” said Holly Daniels, office support specialist for Geology. “We looked everywhere including the window wells but didn’t see anything.”

Billy told his wife that he was going to stay the night in Cheyenne so he could continue looking for Zoey.

Lori Chesnut, a records and data management analyst with Highway Safety, came out over that weekend several times to look for Zoey.

“I kept walking the property but I couldn’t find her,” Chesnut said. “We were all so worried about her and wanted to do whatever we could to find her.”

The Russells created a flyer that had Zoey’s picture on it along with their contact information. Chesnut’s husband printed out the flyers and employees posted them around WYDOT. Chesnut also told the Russells about the website lostmydoggie.com so they could get the information about Zoey out to as many people as possible.

Photo: WYDOT

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April 2021

Photos: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

Zoey snuggled on a coat waiting for her family to pick her up.

The deep window well in front of the Planning building that Zoey was rescued from.

Photo: WYDOT

The WYDOT employees involved in looking for Zoey also ended up losing a lot of weight but we’ve been giving her a lot of contacted Susan Elliott, executive assistant to Director K. Luke TLC.” Reiner and Executive Staff, who sent a DOT-All email to employAlthough the weather was cold when Zoey was lost, temperaees about the lost dog. tures dipped even colder the next few days.

“This was truly a group effort in trying to locate Zoey,” Dan“We found her on a Friday and then that weekend temperaiels said. “All of us did what we could to find tures dipped below zero,” Chesnut said. “I her.” don’t know if she would have survived if she When Juma found her, the employees was still lost.” continued to work together.

The commitment to helping others is The window well was too deep for them seen throughout WYDOT as employees go to get down to her, so Mike Kurz, WYDOT above and beyond on a daily basis.

Emergency Communications, went to get a During a snowstorm in February, Bill ladder. Then, coworker Troy Berg found one Knighton, a highway maintenance technilarge enough to get down into the window cian in District 1, helped a motorist get his well. dog.

“We don’t know how long she was down Knighton and another plow driver came there,” Daniels said. “When we were looking across a rolled vehicle on I-80 just after it for her, we checked the window wells and occurred. They got the driver out of his didn’t see her. She might have been somevehicle and the dog that was with him got where else and then she fell down in there.” spooked and ran from the vehicle.

Zoey was hungry and employees gave her They got the driver into one of their plenty of food, comfort and love. Someone plows and were checking to see if he needed even gave Zoey their coat for the little dog to an ambulance. sleep on.

“The driver was worried about his dog,” They contacted the Russells to tell them Knighton said. “I tried calling the dog but it they found Zoey. Kitty immediately headed didn’t come.” to Cheyenne, driving in the snow to get their Knighton didn’t want the dog to get hit Zoey reunited with her mom, Kitty Russell. beloved dog because Billy, who is a truck by a vehicle so he tried to coax it over to driver, was out on the road working. him with a packet of tuna he had with him.

“I couldn’t believe they found her because she was gone for a However, the dog still didn’t come over to him. whole week,” Kitty said. “When they told me I started crying and Knighton then gave the packet of tuna to the driver who was screaming. I called my husband and he was in tears. We are both able to get his dog to come over to him. n so happy and grateful to everyone who helped find Zoey. She

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Interchange 15

Training Training has much to offer through WELL – including vendors outside WYDOT

By Rebecca McGee, Training Services WYDOT has a lot of training that can be accessed. Some of this training is hosted in the WELL and some of it hosted by vendors outside of WYDOT. The WELL catalogs all of this training, helps you find and access it, and then keeps track of it on your transcript.

eLearning, you can launch the course by clicking OPEN COURSE or play icon.

• If it is a Learning Plan, which can include eLearning, assignments, and instructor led training, click the blue plus button to the right of the event title to enroll.

• The term “Enrollment” refers to instructor led training, live or virtual. If you want to enroll, click the course title to see the details, then click the ENROLL button. To drop the training, click DROP. Here’s How To Find Training on an External catalogue: 1. Click the FIND TRAINING button.

2. Click the EXTERNAL COURSE CATALOG title.

3. Click EXTERNAL COURSE CATALOG (in red letters).

4. Narrow your search using filters, which include types, categories and start dates.

5. Click the event title and view the details and register for the training on the externally hosted site.

Here’s How To Find Training on WYDOT’s Internal catalogue: 1. Click the FIND TRAINING button.

2. Click WYDOT Course catalog.

3. Narrow your search using filters, which include types, categories and start dates.

NOTE: You may need to create an account on the externally hosted site. View the job aid about the external site to see how to create an account.

Here’s How To Register for Additional Training Resources: 1. Click on the ADDITIONAL TRAINING RESOURCES title.

2. Review the descriptions for the resources.

3. Click the icon for the resource you choose.

4. Follow the directions for enrolling in a class on the external site that hosts this additional training.

Check out these upcoming training Note: Training taken in the ”Additional Resources” section can be opportunities from WYDOT-U, the recorded in your transcript using the “Add External Training” feature Transportation Learning Network (TLN) in the WELL. n and the new WELL. Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the new WELL.

Training @ a Glance

4. Click the event title and view the details.

• The terms “Course” or “Class” refer to eLearning. With

Training @ a Glance In April: Date Class 4/12/21 Know WY – Google and WELL Basics,

Know WY Event 2 Webinar 4/21/21 NEW! 360 Degrees of Customer Service (2 day VILT) 4/22/21 Know WY – New Employee Onboarding Workshop (Event 3)* Coming in May & June: Date Class

5/10/21

5/18/21 6/8/21

Know WY – Google and WELL Basics, Know WY Event 2 Webinar Franklin Covey’s Speed of Trust Foundations WY Supervise New Supervisors Training COHORT 2 (Day 1 & 2 of 5)

Class Hours 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

4/21: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.; 4/28: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Class Hours

Location WYDOT – Webinar Webinar WYDOT – VILT / Webinar Location

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

WYDOT – Webinar WYDOT – TBD

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

WYDOT-U /VILT

See ‘Tentative Schedule’ for full schedule - final schedule will be determined with Cohort 2. Employees should register for the WY Supervise Learning Plan, then they can register for one of these workshops in their My Learning section of the WELL. Tentative schedule: 7/15: Day 3 Virtual Check In (2 hrs); 8/5: Day 4 Virtual Workshop (4 hrs); 8/19: Day 5 Virtual Workshop (4 hrs)

6/14/21

6/17/21

Know WY Google and WELL Basics, Know WY Event 2 Webinar Know WY New Employee Onboarding Workshop (Event 3)*

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

*All new employees are automatically assigned the Know WY Learning Plan and should register for one of these workshops in their My Learning section of the WELL.

Visit the Training Services intranet page for more information.

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April 2021

Webinar VILT / Webinar

District News Headquarters

Welcome

Oversight; and Mark Wingate, Planning-Administration.

Melissa Alton-Brunk, Bridge-Engineering Design; Nicolas Delach, Bridge-Operations Design; Tarryn Demers, Planning-Local Government Coordination; Jacob Gardner, Grants and Contracts-Administration; and Kevin Jackson, Human Resources; Donald Lowe, Traffic-Sign Shop; Kara Poppe, Financial Services-General Ledger; and John Walborn, GIS/ITS.

Service Awards

Bradfield

Wheeler

Promotions & Transfers Katherine Bradfield, Traffic; Devon Wheeler, Highway Project Management

Wingate

cle After y c

ading!

Re

Please R e

Miazga

Welcome Alton Garcia, Traffic-Signing; Troy Henderson, Baggs Maintenance; Derek May, Laramie Maintenance; Joseph Neel, Elk Mountain Maintenance; and Michael Picerno, Medicine Bow Maintenance.

Lee Burns, Right of Way-Negotiations – 20 years; Laura Miazga, Driver Services-Regional – 10 years; and Tom Schreur, GIS/ITS – 10 years.

Promotions & Transfers

Retirements

Gerald Thuente, Laramie Maintenance – 10 years; Gregory Hopper, Traffic-Signing – 5 years; Andrew Millemon, Laramie Maintenance – 5 years; Christopher Perkins, Emergency Communications-Microwave – 5 years; and Robert Roland, Cheyenne Mechanics – 5 years. n

Sgt. James Gates retired on Feb. 5 after serving Wyoming’s citizens for 19 years.

Gates started his career with the Wyoming Highway Patrol in Rock Springs in 2002 after serving 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard.

He was recognized in 2004 for assisting in recapturing escapGates ees and recovering a stolen vehicle. In 2006 Sergeant Gates was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While holding the rank of Sergeant, he helped out in the Capitol Division (Division O), Laramie County Division (Division A), as well as Headquarters Division (Division X) on several different venues. In 2020 he was recognized for going above and beyond in his duties as a sergeant. n

District 2 Burns

District 1

Jesse Burgess, District 1 Shop.

Service Awards

Burgess

Millemon

Perkins

District 3

Welcome

Welcome

Clinton Borton, Douglas Mechanics; and Justin Groom, Muddy Gap Maintenance.

Jeffrey Hobbs, Labarge Maintenance; Dillon Knippers, Evanston Maintenance: Joshua Mauch, Rock Springs Maintenance; and Larry Schramm, Evanston Maintenance. n

Service Awards Christopher Martin, Douglas Patrol – 10 years. n Martin

April 2021

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Interchange 17

District 4

District 5

Welcome

Welcome

Brian Blakeman, Sheridan Traffic-Striping; Alexander Bohne, Sheridan Maintenance; Ben Emery, Driver Services-Sheridan/Buffalo; Michael Phipps, Reno Junction Maintenance; Christopher Rader, Sheridan Traffic-Striping; Alonzo Rosalez, Buffalo Maintenance; Trevor Snook, Sheridan Mechanics; and Parker Tiffany, Sheridan Mechanics.

Zachary Olson, Riverton Maintenance; and Connor Pae, Cody Mechanics.

Service Awards

Photo: WYDOT

James Thomas, Lander Maintenance – 40 years; and Keith Poston, Lander Maintenance – 15 years.

Blakeman

Rosalez

Promotions & Transfers Leslie Moore, Reno Junction Maintenance.

Moore

The District 4 maintenance operators who spent time mid-March helping out District 1 and District 2 with the snowstorm met March 23 for a post-storm review. Doug McLean held a coloring contest among those who attended and the photo is a sampling of the submissions.

Service Awards Kyle Seymour, Buffalo Maintenance – 10 years. n

Thomas

Poston

Retirements Dean Magnussen retired Feb. 13 with six years of service from Dubois Maintenance as a highway maintenance technician. n

Magnussen

Seymour

Skiing? Vacation? Hunt lately?

Get those photos in!

Outdoors photos deadline:

June 15

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

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April 2021

Passings Richard Diefenderfer, Jr. Communication Specialist Richard C. Diefenderfer, 53, died March 3 at his home.

He was born April 5, 1967 in Powell.

Diefenderfer worked at the Wyoming Highway Patrol since March 1998. While Diefenderfer employed with the patrol, he worked as a dispatcher and a dispatch supervisor. Diefenderfer was well-liked by his co-workers and often recognized for being a team player. He was recognized for his diligence and initiative throughout his career. On many occasions, he would go above and beyond to find information to aid with apprehensions.

A celebration of life was held at The Office Grill in Cheyenne on April 3.

Larry S. Gerard Larry Steven “Steve” Gerard, 75, of Cheyenne, Wyoming passed away on March 23, 2021.

Steve is survived by his sister, Carole Gerard (Malone) of Denver, Colorado, and he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Anne Gerard

Gerard, and his parents.

Steve was born on March 9, 1946 in Alton, Illinois to Frank and Jean Gerard.

He attended the University of Wyoming and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Steve accepted a position with the Wyoming Highway Patrol in 1972 in Lyman, Wyoming and retired in Cheyenne as a Captain in 2002, with 30 years of service. He was associated with Wyoming Trucking Association and was involved with their Safety Council and Truck Driving Championships.

Steve was a member of the Army National Guard of Wyoming from 1966 to 1972, a member of the Cheyenne Masonic Lodge No. 1, a Shriner, and an avid hunter and fisherman.

Steve’s wish was to be cremated and due to COVID-19 there will be no memorial service. Condolences may be made online at https://schradercares.com/ obituary/Steve-Gerard. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Cremation is under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home.

David Leeling David Leeling, 64, of Casper, passed away March 6. He was born December 19, 1956.

Leeling came to WYDOT in 2013 and worked as a heavy mechanic in

Leeling

Casper. He was extremely dedicated to his work and enjoyed working with the people he worked with everyday. The family plans to have a gathering this summer at Seminoe Lake to celebrate his life.

Vernon A. Montgomery Vernon Arthur Montgomery, 75, of Sundance, passed away peacefully at home on March 16 surrounded by loved ones. He successfully fought Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for 30 years but ultimately lost a final and brief battle to metastatic Montgomery lung cancer.

He was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota on April 23, 1945 to Kenneth and Betty Jo (Smith) Montgomery. The family lived in Custer, South Dakota until moving to Sundance when Montgomery was two. He attended school in Sundance, graduating high school in 1963.

In June of 1964 he joined the U.S. Navy. He proudly served on the U.S.S. Pyro, an ammunition ship, off the shore of Vietnam, until May 1969. Upon discharge from the Navy he returned to Sundance and began his career with the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency.

Montgomery worked for the WYDOT Sundance Construction office, from which he retired in 2005 after 36 years.

He married Arna (Duca) on August 12, 1972 in Sundance at the United Methodist Church. The couple had three children: a daughter, Trista, born in 1975, followed by the adoption of 3-day-old daughter, Kari, in 1979. In 2005, their son Tristan was lovingly welcomed into their home to complete their family of five.

Services were held on March 21 at the United Methodist Church in Sundance.

Inurnment followed at Green Mountain Cemetery with full military honors. n

April 2021

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Interchange 19

Photo: Cody Beers

Outdoors

Photo: Josh Kramlich

Photo: Cozsea Images, courtesy of Roger Huckfeldt

Hally Beers, wife of Baylor Beers Project Development engineer in Cheyenne, caught this cutthroat trout at Upper Sunshine Reservoir this winter. It was a great day on the hard water!

John Ott, with High West Energy, took this picture March 16 when snow removal crews were out on I-80 westbound just west of Pine Bluffs.

Twelve-year-old Kylie Kramlich, daughter of Josh Kramlich with Buffalo Maintenance, harvested her first elk this past hunting season.

Her first hunt was rewarded with a huge buck. Congratulations, Kylie!

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April 2021

Retired Highway Patrol Trooper Roger Huckfeldt went diving this winter in Cozumel and represented his home state.

Photo: Cody Beers

Photo: John Ott

Ian Parsons (above) and Cole Dallman hit the lake after a day of work on the Cody Construction crew. The duo caught and released this nice 18-inch largemouth bass as the sun was going down.

Photo: Cody Beers

Photo: Ian Parsons

February Sunrise near Worland.

Early-morning fog on US 20/WYO 789 north of Shoshoni at the foot of the Owl Creek Mountains.

April 2021

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Interchange 21

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22 Interchange

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April 2021

Break Time Sudoku time! Enter numbers into the blank spaces so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9 without repeats.

Answer to the March 2021 Break Time logic puzzle:

4 5

3

6

2

9 2 8

5 6 9 3 8 3 1 7 5 2 1 2 7 4 9 8 5 4 1 8 8 2 7 6 6 2 3 4 9 5 4

1

Interchange subscription issue? Update your address:

1) Complete and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009, or 2) Send an email to Carlie Van Winkle at carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

Add me to the mailing list

Retiree Employee

Change my address

Remove this address; person no longer lives here or is deceased.

Name change, I am a family member of a deceased employee, but I would like to continue receiving Interchange.

Name Current address City, State, Zip Previous address City, State, Zip

April 2021

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Interchange 23

Interchange Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340 Address Service Requested

Pre-sorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cheyenne, WY 82009 Permit No. 24