September 2022 Vol. 50, Iss. 9 Recap
Crews see mild winter, perform four mitigation missions
Original report by Avalanche Forecaster Brenden Cronin, edited for length by Jordan Achs
tored for instability and other concerns. Due to warmer tempera tures and limited snowfall, the snowpack was low last season.
The heat of summer is still strong, but WYDOT is always thinking about snow and how to keep it off of the highways. While that often means snowplows, it also includes avalanche mitigation. Recently WYDOT Avalanche Forecaster Brenden Cronin compiled an avalanche department season summary for the 2021-2022 winter season, which gives an overview on condi tions, challenges, success and more.
Overall the winter was mild, with a few short periods of heavy snowfall interrupting long stretches without any precipitation at all. Beyond any new snow, the existing snowpack is also moni
Interchange of avalanche season
Information compiled gives WYDOT an overview on conditions, challenges, successes
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the 2021-22
WYDOT Avalanche Forecaster Brenden Cronin fires the howitzer during a rare daytime avalanche hazard mitigation on Teton Pass in 2019. WYDOTPhoto: Avalanche continued on
February had the least snowfall of any month this winter, with 14 inches containing only .69 inches of snow-water equivalent (SWE). Snow with high water equivalent, especially after a snow fall with low SWE, can increase avalanche risks. Thanks to the lack of snowfall and unseasonably warm temperatures, February saw the lowest snowpack depth in the Rendezvous Bowl snow study plot in Teton County in the past 32 years.
2 Interchange n September 2022 Interchange Vol. 50, Issue 9 A WYDOT PUBLICATION Features 1 Recap of the 2021-22 avalanche season Crews see milder winter, perform four mitigation missions 8 PSCC visits Alcova tower Education session for commissioners 12 A Wyoming welcome Wyoming hosts Tunisian visitors through National Guard State Partnership Program Programs & Partner Agencies Driver Services ............................................................................................ 17 Employee Safety .......................................................................................... 16 Game & Fish ................................................................................................. 16 Highway Safety ............................................................................................ 14 Training ........................................................................................................ 13 PSCC ............................................................................................................... 8 Also in this issue District Briefs ................................................................................................. 3 Noteworthy .................................................................................................. 11 TechNotes ................................................................................................... 15 District News ............................................................................................... 18 By the Numbers ........................................................................................... 20 Outdoors....................................................................................................... 22 WTDEA ......................................................................................................... 23 Passings ....................................................................................................... 24 Letters .......................................................................................................... 25 Break Time ................................................................................................... 27 Contents Kindly recycle this publication after reading. Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Trans portation 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. Staff WYDOT Director: K. Luke Reiner Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee Editor: Carlie Van Winkle Contributors: Jordan Achs Public Affairs Matt Groth Public Affairs Mark Horan Public Affairs Carlie Van Winkle Public Affairs Andrea Staley District 1 Jeff Goetz District 2 Stephanie Harsha District 3 Laura Dalles District 4 Cody Beers District 5 Sgt. Jeremy Beck 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.
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded almost $19.3 million in contracts for five Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its Aug. 18 business meeting. A bid of almost $1.7 million was awarded to Sheridan-based Advanced Electrical Contracting, Inc. for a project that involves electrical work, sidewalk, curb and gutter and other work at various locations within Big Horn, Converse, Fremont, Hot Springs, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Niobrara, Platte, Sheridan, Sweetwater, Uinta, Washakie and Weston Counties.Thecommission awarded a $1.8 mil lion bid to Utah-based Coldwater Group, Inc. for a project involving structure replacement, grading, guardrail and other work at the Hams Fork River Bridge on Lincoln County Road 327 in Lincoln County.Thecontracted completion date for the above two projects is October 31, 2023. The commission awarded a $7.1 million bid to Worland-based Mc Garvin-Moberly Construction Co. for a project that involves milling, paving, chip seal and other work on about 10 miles of US Highway 191 in Sublette County. The project has a contracted completion date of June 30, Mills-based2024.King Enterprises was awarded a $4.4 million bid for a project that involves fencing, grading and other work at various locations along Interstate 25 in Johnson County. The contracted completion date for the project is Novem ber 30, 2024. All of the above projects are funded primarily with federal dollars. The only project awarded in August that is funded primarily with state dollars involves milling, paving, chip seal and other work on more than 7 miles of US Highway 89 in Lincoln County. The project was awarded to Idaho-based H-K Contractors, Inc. with a bid of almost $4.2 million, and the work has a contracted completion date of August 31, 2023. Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bidder. August’s meeting saw an average of about 2.7 bids per project.
WYDOT’s 2023 STIP now available for comment CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Depart ment of Transportation is seeking public comment and review of its 2023 transpor tation improvement planning document.
September 2022 n Interchange 3
If you suspect someone has taken fentanyl, call 911 immediately.
The STIP contains a listing of highway and bridge projects, airport improvement work, transit and Public Safety Commu nications Commission projects that WY DOT tentatively expects to contract for during the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The final STIP will also incorporate WYDOT’s capital improve ment projects. The final approved STIP is published annually and updates are issued monthly.Thepublic can also submit their comments by email inprojectao/f?p=951:1:116133076854266mapingandprojectsousthethroughoutfederalincludesprojectsSTIPSTIP82009.mailwy.us/ContactWYDOT/?id=128(http://www.dot.state.)orbyto5300BishopBlvd.,Cheyenne,WYThedeadlineforreceivingdraftcommentsisSept.2,2022.Besidesthe2023projects,thedraftincludesalistingoftransportationslatedthrough2028.Italsoasummaryofpass-throughfundingforpublictransportationthestate.Projectsarelistedbycountyandnotegeneralcharacterofworkforthevaritransportationsystemprojects.Theseincludehighway,transit,airportsothers.Additionally,WYDOTisacceptpubliccommentviaaninteractiveathttps://webapp.dot.state.wy.us/WYDOTemphasizesthattheSTIPlistingistentativeandisrevisedaccordancewithchangesinfunding
Fentanyl is an opioid pain medication similar to morphine but is 50-100 times more potent. When used correctly, it is a very effective pain reliever for cancer pa tients. However, illicit fentanyl is an illegal drug cut into other drugs such as heroin, cocaine and counterfeit prescription pills. Fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes or acciden tally inhaled. The effects of this drug are unpredictable because it varies from per son to person based on their size, weight, metabolism and whether they have taken other drugs before taking fentanyl. Everyone needs to know how danger ous illicit fentanyl is, especially if some one has taken it unknowingly because they may need medical attention imme diately.
WYDOT’s draft 2023 State Trans portation Improvement Plan (STIP) is available at www.dot.state.wy.us/home on the department’s website. People can navigate to the STIP web page by select ing Planning/Projects/Research and STIP Project Listing, which contains the 2023 STIP PDF and a map where people can make comments or suggest new projects.
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Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day CHEYENNE – Aug. 21 was National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. This day was designated to recognize the dangers of fentanyl and how it affects Wyoming.In2020, 1,663 dosage units and .27 pounds of fentanyl were seized by law en forcement in Wyoming. That’s an increase of 3,876% from the previous year. In 2021, 11,135 dosage units and 64.83 lbs. of fentanyl were seized by law enforcement in Wyoming, an increase of 10,539%.Morethan 13,398 dosage units of fentanyl have already been seized by Wyoming law enforcement in 2022. Since 2018 there have been 334,476 dosage units of fentanyl seized by law enforce ment in PreventionWyoming.andeducation is a defi nite power to help others make educated choices. The Wyoming Highway Patrol warns the public that illicit fentanyl is prevalent in the United States and can cause sudden death. Education about the dangers of illicit fentanyl and information can reduce victim fatalities.
District Briefs Headquarters Commission awards almost $19.3 million in contracts in August
LARAMIE – On Aug. 4, two separate vehicle pursuits occurred within hours of each other involving stolen vehicles. The first pursuit was initiated around 07:35 a.m. north of Cheyenne on Inter state 25 after a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding. The chase proceeded north into Chugwater before the suspect vehicle drove south on Iron Mountain Road and overturned on the gravel road. The male suspect was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit. The second pursuit started around 09:30 a.m. after WHP Troopers were notified of a stolen vehicle driving west on Interstate 80 west of Rawlins. Troop ers attempted to stop the stolen car, but the driver failed to stop. The pursuing trooper was able to perform a tactical intervention maneuver on the stolen vehi cle bringing the pursuit to an end around milepost 127 on I-80 in Sweetwater County. The male driver was taken into custody without further incident. The drivers from both incidents were charged with possessing stolen vehicles, attempting to elude peace officers and other traffic-related charges. A third high-speed chase originat ed south of Laramie and ended west of Cheyenne.OnAug.
The car was partially disabled after going over a small embankment, but the driver attempted to drive off again. As the car started moving east on Happy Jack, a trooper immediately performed a tactical vehicle intervention maneuver to stop the car. The suspect vehicle drove off the road and through a right-of-way fence before stopping. The occupants in the vehicle were taken into custody without further incident.Thedriver was booked into the Albany County Detention Center on charges of possessing a stolen vehicle, possession of
Paving operations caused road closure on WYO 71
RAWLINS – Maintenance crews with the Wyoming Department of Transporta tion paved part of Wyoming Highway 71/ Sage Creek Road starting Aug. 17. This is a continuation of a seasonal paving project started earlier this sum mer in Carbon County. Crews focused at the head of WYO 71/Sage Creek Road, near the junction at Wyoming Highway 78/ South Higley Boulevard, ending at milepost 1. WYO 71/Sage Creek Road was closed for the duration of the paving operation. The closure lasted a few days and detours were in place during the closure.
5, after troopers stopped to assist a stranded motorist out of fuel on US 287 south of Laramie, a pursuit ensued around 7:43 a.m. As the occu pants in the car were receiving fuel from roadside service, the troopers learned the vehicle was reported stolen from Colora do. The driver fled from troopers as they re-approached him to have him exit the car. The chase proceeded north on US 287 and into Laramie, where troopers lost sight of the suspect vehicle. The vehicle was spotted driving recklessly through the city of Laramie and then was observed driving onto the Interstate. WHP began to pursue the car again as the vehicle’s driver fled east toward Cheyenne. The pursuit exited at Happy Jack Road and continued toward Cheyenne.
Black’s Fork bridge work will cause delays, width restriction in place
LARAMIE – Crews with S&L In dustrial and the Wyoming Department of Transportation placed epoxy striping in various locations around the district beginning Aug. 24. Epoxy striping is more durable than traditional striping, especially in high-traffic areas. Work includes minor work in various locations around Rawlins. The last week of August, crews focused on a portion of US 287 in Laramie before addressing various locations around Cheyenne, including a section on Interstate 80 near PineThisBluffs.project was a mobile work zone with slow-moving striping equipment. Cones were in place to help indicate wet epoxy.
ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from DeBernardi Con struction Company, Inc., began working on the Black’s Fork bridge on WYO 530 at milepost 14.66 south of Green River on August 1. During the work, traffic was reduced to a single, alternating lane
WHP involved in spate of stolen vehicles
4 Interchange n September 2022 levels, highway conditions and other is sues that arise during the advance project design phase. District 1 Epoxy striping caused district-wide delays
I-80 Exit 142 paving operation closes ramps
Troopers attempted to deploy spike strips to deflate the vehicle’s tires, but the driver drove off the road to avoid them.
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methamphetamine, reckless driving and attempting to elude a peace officer.
The closure lasted one day. The inter change was inaccessible during that time. The interchange and nearby area could still be accessed during that time, by mak ing arrangements with the local WYDOT engineer’s office. This closure was part of a larger project on 5 miles of I-80 between Rock Springs and Rawlins, which includes grading and paving, bridge rehabilitation and miscellaneous work beginning at milepost 130. The completion date for this project was set for August 31.
WYDOT stripes Jackson town square
JACKSON – The Wyoming De partment of Transportation performed pavement striping and signing mainte nance in Jackson. Crews worked near the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Cache Street near the town square, the Y intersection of WYO 22 and US 26/89/191, and the 5-way intersection of Broadway Ave, West Pearl Avenue and Flat Creek Drive. Work took place at night between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. Drivers were advised to expect intermittent lane closures and reduced speeds, and avoid the area if possible during those times.
ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and con tract crews from H-K Contractors Inc., closed Interstate 80 exit 142 on and off ramps, as well as the crossroad under the bridge, for grading and paving operations.
District 3
District 5 Big Horn
On the morning of July 30, law enforcement located the male subject around milepost 185 on Interstate 90. The male suspect fired at law enforcement again as they attempted to take him into custody. Law enforcement returned fire, striking the male. The male was taken into custody and immediately received medical attention but was pronounced deceased a short time later. No law enforcement officers were in jured during this event, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation has taken the lead over the case.
CODY – A 3-month pedestrian crosswalk test just west of the intersection of Freedom Street and Big Horn Avenue intersection was installed prior to the beginning of the 2022-23 school year in Cody.The crosswalk test includes a paint ed crosswalk with push button warning lights, a pedestrian refuge island in the middle of Big Horn Avenue, and a barrier to eliminate left-hand turns from Big Horn Avenue and Freedom Street.
The testing was approved last week by the Cody Urban Systems and Traffic Committee after an evaluation of multiple alternatives by Stantec, the traffic con sultant working on the Big Horn Avenue Corridor Study. The crosswalk test will be in place from the start of the school year until the Thanksgiving holiday, said city of Cody Public Works Director Phillip Bowman.
pedestrianAvenuecrosswalk test in effect for start of school year in Cody
Traffic signal on Coffeen Avenue to be upgraded
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September 2022 n Interchange 5 controlled by a temporary signal. Drivers were advised to be aware of traffic control devices, reduced speeds and delays of up to 15 minutes under stop conditions. The bridge also had a width restriction of 14 feet. Travelers with large campers and trailers were advised to take note of the width restriction and plan accordingly.Thework was scheduled to last rough ly six weeks. The work is part of a district wide bridge rehabilitation project. The completion date for the entire project, including other locations, is Oct. 31.
SHERIDAN – The Wyoming De partment of Transportation Commission recently awarded Advanced Electrical Contracting, Inc., of Sheridan, a contract to upgrade a traffic signal on Coffeen Avenue, in Sheridan, for the amount of $647,060. Funds for this project came from the Highway Safety Improvement Program. Work began Aug. 15. The signal located at Coffeen Avenue and Lowell Street is a non-typical 5-way intersection.Theproject upgrades the traffic signal system, while also adjusting the timing and increasing detection capabilities of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. These upgrades increase the safety and func tionality of the non-typical intersection. The sidewalk corners were upgraded to meet current pedestrian ADA require ments.Traffic control varied depending on the location and nature of the work taking place. A minimum of 2-way, uninter rupted traffic flow on Coffeen Avenue was maintained for the duration of the project.Thecurrent signal remained opera tional while the new system was installed andTheactivated.contract completion date is June 30, 2023. Intersection of Coffeen Avenue and Lowell Street signal upgrade.
“While this type of crosswalk testing could be inconvenient for motorists, it does give Stantec, Wyoming Department
Reduced speeds on I-80 due to bridge work ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, and con tract crews from Reiman Corp, poured a bridge deck in the westbound lane of I-80 the night of July 28 between Rock Springs and Green MotoristsRiver.encountered delays the night of July 28 continuing into the following day and were advised to plan accordingly. During the work and four hours thereaf ter, traffic was reduced to 10 mph within the lane closure. It was then reduced to 25 mph for the next 20 hours while the concrete set properly. District 4 Chip seal projects continue in northeast Wyoming
SHERIDAN – WYDOT and its con tractor, Bituminous Paving Inc., resumed chip seal operations Aug. 26 after a two week required break to accommodate the heavy motorcycle traffic associated with the Sturgis Rally. Work resumed on WYO 24 near Dev ils Tower Aug. 26-27 and then moved to US 16 in Moorcroft Aug. 29-Sept 1. Work will then move to the Kingsbury section of I-90 between mile markers 96.10 to 100.8 Sept. 6. Sections of WYO 50 from Gillette to Savageton will be sealed beginning Sept. 8 and will then relocate to US 16A Business Route and portions US 16 in Newcastle. The portion of US 16A Business Route will run from South Railroad Avenue to the US 16 Bypass Intersection.
SUNDANCE – On the night of July 29, a trooper with the Wyoming High way Patrol stopped a male walking along Interstate 90 around milepost 184 in Crook County. It was learned that the male had an active warrant for his arrest and the trooper requested assistance from the Crook County Sheriff’s Department. As law enforcement attempted to arrest the male, the man began walking away. The male suspect was able to retrieve a handgun from his person and fired sever al shots at law enforcement before fleeing into the darkness. A search was conducted throughout the night to find the man.
DallesLauraPhoto: Man with a warrant shoots at WHP trooper
The temporary pedestrian crossing testing at Freedom Street in Cody.
LANDER – A $821,000 slope flat tening project began on US 287 north of Lander.Theproject includes grading, fencing, signing, drainage, surfacing, seeding/ero sion control and fencing on 3.5 miles of US 287 beginning at milepost 2.1 between Lander and Fort Washakie. The project’s prime contractor is High Country Construction, Inc., of Lander. The contractor’s schedule calls for topsoil stripping and culvert extensions on US 287 with dirt grading and placing of crushed gravel base beginning. Delays were expected of up to 15 min utes throughout the work zone. Contract completion date is June 30, 2023. n
Lander-Fort Washakie slope flattening project
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WYDOTPhoto: Milling, paving on US 14/16/20 west of Cody near Yellowstone CODY – Asphalt milling and pav ing began Aug. 1 on 10.25 miles of US 14/16/20 directly east of the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The $5.4 million pavement improve ment project, west of Cody, consists of rotomilling of the existing pavement surface, a 2-inch pavement overlay, chip sealing, minor slope flattening, guardrail repair and other work.
Park County School District 6 Trustee Stefanie Bell told the Urban Systems and Traffic Committee that the Cody Middle School morning schedule’s start time will be 8:15 a.m., and the district will run an additional bus route for the 40-plus middle school students who live on the north side of US 14A (Big Horn Avenue). The later bus route will provide a new opportunity for students to travel safely across US 14A in the mornings. The later start time for Cody Middle School “should create a 15-minute gap which may help distribute traffic at Cody Middle School, which also functions as the school district’s transportation hub,” BellBowmansaid. said a pair of public listening sessions are still planned. One of the ses sions, currently planned for late Septem ber or early October, will give citizens an opportunity to review the viable alterna tives emerging from the Big Horn Avenue Corridor Study. It will also provide an opportunity for public comment on the crosswalk testing on Big Horn Avenue. The second public listening session will take place later this year, and citizens will be presented with recommended alter natives for the Big Horn Avenue corridor prior to publishing the final report.
6 Interchange n September 2022 of Transportation and the Cody Urban Systems and Traffic Committee an oppor tunity to evaluate the alternative under live traffic while protecting pedestrians,” BowmanDuringsaid.the 3-month period, the city of Cody will open the gate at the east end of Cougar Avenue near the Cody Middle School. This action will allow parents and other school traffic to use Stone Street and 33rd Street, via a pair of short gravel roads, to access Big Horn Avenue (US 14A) and the middle school from the east end of town toward Powell. “We understand changes to the exist ing traffic patterns are likely at the middle school and surrounding areas as this testing is performed, especially on Cougar Avenue and Blackburn Street as drivers find new and different routes due to the left turn restrictions at Freedom Street,” Bowman said.
Paving continued through August with reduced speeds and traffic delays expect ed. The project is located west of Cody between Yellowstone National Park and Cody from milepost 0.00 (Yellowstone’s East Entrance) and extends east 10.25 miles to milepost 10.25 (Fishhawk Trail head).All work, with the exception of recla mation, was required to be complete by Aug. 31. Contract completion date is Oct. 31,Prime2022. contractor for the project is Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell. This section of US 14/16/20 was orig inally constructed in 1996-97. “Normal service life for pavement is approximately 20 years before it needs rehabilitation and an overlay,” Frost said.
Avalanche continued from cover
Most of the heavy snow this year fell in the spring. An eightday storm cycle in April produced 32 inches of snow with 2.26 inches of SWE as well as rain to the lower elevations and can yons.Due to the mild winter, few avalanche mitigation missions were needed. In total, crews conducted four mitigation missions.
Other equipment updates for the 2021-22 season included a retrofit of the avalanche guard system, weather station repairs and continued work on the GazX. Permits for the installation of a new weather station for Winter 2022/2023 in the Snake River Canyon were secured. Last season the Avalanche Department had nearly-full staffing levels in a WYDOT shop that has been understaffed for multiple winters.
We’d like to thank the WYDOT avalanche technicians for their hard work monitoring avalanche conditions to prevent additional risk to the traveling public below. n
WYDOTPhoto: Forecasters dig down in the snow to ana lyze and record snow density, snow crystal structure, depth and bonding properties of the different snow layers. This scientific process is the essence of avalanche forecasting. Weak layers are noted and tracked as they metamor phose over time and hopefully gain strength before the next storm.
Below: Another look at the GazX shelter and oxygen tanks.
Above: Avalanche Technician Grant Henarie digs out the shelter. The tanks on the deck contain oxygen which is mixed with propane in the shelter. The oxygen and propane are mixed together in dosing tanks and the gas is fed to the exploders located in the avalanche path starting zones. Working on these systems is like doing plumbing at 10,000 feet when it’s 5 degrees out!
September 2022 n Interchange 7
With the mild conditions and a team of skisetsexperiencedudtofiringobservingwereandciansAvalanchedisposeceduresandistoexplosivessystem,avalanchesonhisalmost-closeCronincallsanymanagedemployees,experiencedcrewstoavoidmajorclosethisseason.notesonecallinreport:“Duringpre-seatestingoftheguardoneofthefaileddetonate.Thisknownasadud,thereareproinplacetoofthedud.TechniAdamDavisGrantHenarieonMt.Glorythetestandwereableseewherethelanded.Usingandskillgainedfrompatrolling,theyquickly and effectively disassembled the dud. It is still unknown why the explosive failed to detonate but the avalanche team used this as a learning opportunity and discussed what may have led to the failure.”
Beyond the challenges Mother Nature likes to create, crews also faced challenges with the equipment used to detonate ava lanches during mitigation missions. The GazX system presented the crew with equipment issues and leaks that required quick repair in fall 2021 and again in January. Crews replaced a valve and made some other modifications this spring, with phase 2 of the new system to be installed this summer.
The first missions for the season took place January 6 on Wy oming Highway 22/Teton Pass and US Highway 191/189 at the Hoback River Canyon. Both missions produced results that cov ered 30-50 feet of roadway in at least 2-8 feet of show, depending on the location.
WYDOTPhoto:
Crews also experienced a catastrophic error when an OBell’X system being installed at Cow of the Woods fell down the ava lanche path, destroying the unit. Fortunately no travelers were hurt, and the incident created industry-wide policy changes for equipment installation in the future. A big thank you to the Colorado Department of Transportation for loaning WYDOT an OBell’X system for the season while we worked to replace the damaged equipment.
WYDOTPhoto:
On April 15-16, crews conducted avalanche mitigation missions due to concerns about how the drier mid-winter snow would bond to the firm and warm spring snowpack. Mitigation was performed in the Hoback River Canyon and Teton Pass, with minimal road impacts. By focusing on the scientific pro cess of ferentCrewsgationavalancheefficientlyeffectivelyteamForecasting,Avalanchethewasabletoandutilizemitimeasures.useddifmitigation equipment depending on location and need, including Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS) such as GazX, O’BellX, and Avalanche Guard, as well as the mobile howitzer. In total, the 2021-22 season saw 32 detonations, versus 39 the winter before. Just four of the 11 recorded instances of avalanche activity were not explosively triggered. By decreasing the use of explosives the team subsequently decreased the inherent risk associated with using high order explosives.
WYDOTPhoto:
The Public Safety Communications Commission (PSCC) held their quarterly business meeting on Aug. 10 in Casper. The commission received updates from WYDOT’s Emergency Com munication’s Program and discussed strategies regarding mission critical and emergency communication systems within WYDOT and the state. Garrett Doyle with AT&T presented information on FirstNet, an interoperable, public safety communications plat form. Converse County Commissioner Rick Grant briefed the commission on the emergency communications needs of rural fireThedepartments.commissioners also participated in an education session on Aug. 9. The group toured the WyoLink tower site near Alcova.
PSCC
PSCC quarterly meeting held in August
WYDOTPhoto:
The PSCC and stakeholders toured the Alcova WyoLink tower at an education session on Aug. 9.
8 Interchange n September 2022
The PSCC now has a role in Next Generation 9-1-1
During the March 2022 state legislation was passed to autho rize the Public Safety Communications Commission (PSCC) to be the governing board for Next Gen 9-1-1(NG911) in Wyoming. Legislation created two new positions on the PSCC one a Mem ber of Wyoming Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO)/ National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and the other from the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security.Local authority for the operations and funding of the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) has not changed as Wyoming is a Home-Rule State. NG911 Survey has been sent out to the PSAPS in Wyoming to gather information pertaining to their staffing and call volume. At the completion of the survey there were 31 Primary, three Secondary PSAPs and six dispatch centers self-identified in the state.The Wyoming State NG911 Plan was approved by Wyoming Department of Transportation Director, Luke Reiner March 2022. The plan was updated to reflect the legislative changes. PSAP’s are updating equipment to be NG911 ready. Geo
From left: Emergency Communications Program Manager Nathan Smolinski, Dave Reigert from Motorola and PSCC Commissioner/Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr look at communications equipment at the Alco va tower site.
• Dynamic System Resilience; adding redundancy and reliabili ty to the system. This is dependent on the replacement project and a system upgrade.
System Statistics Month PTTs Airtime (minutes) April 2022 1,925,628 163,305.71 May 2022 1,941,019 162,493.56 June 2022 1,940,747 164,423.62 System usage shows the 3rd fiscal quarter statistics. These are higher than the previous quarter due to seasonal changes but nothing unusual.
• Microwave system upgrades. Twenty sites getting powerful microwave routers have been staged and will be installed when scheduling allows.
• New mobile and portable radios for WYDOT, the first batch of 200 mobiles are waiting on asset tags then they can be programmed, tested, and installed.
In 2019 Wyoming legislation passed creating the position of the State 911 Coordinator in Wyoming and the March 2022 legislation was one of the final pieces to assist Wyoming in being eligible for future grant funds from the federal government.
• WHP has a new radio with vehicular re peater installed for testing. Once approved we will move to get the first 70 radios installed.
• Smart Connect
WyoLink system upgrades include the replacement of outdat ed and end-of-life equipment:
The top
• GTR Base Repeater replacement, 19 sites upgraded this year.
• Two new additional tower sites (Northern Sheridan County, Saratoga)
• Inter-Subsystem interconnection – Critical ThisConnectwill allow for the WyoLink system to be inter-connected with other neighboring state radio systems, as well as cellular net works. It will be an agnostic connection to cellular providers and will allow for Wyo Link users to communicate with cellular devices; and visa-versa. Critical Connect will expand coverage, and usage for mis sion critical communication in the state of Wyoming. The initial functionality testing has taken place successfully. The WyoLink Office is working with cellular providers to recommend apps and management of subscriber units.
September 2022 n Interchange 9 graphic Information System (GIS) professionals across the state have been meeting and discussing GIS standards and how to meet the needs of PSAPs. 911 Fees collected in the state are not meeting the current funding needs of 911 services. The total fees reported and the expenditures for 2020 left the PSAP community in a $5 million deficit. With the cost of implementing NG911 estimated to be more than $12 million (911.gov) the implementation without federal grants to support costs is a concern.
• Site expansion, additional channels to be added to accommo date high usage. Two of the seven sites adding channels have been completed.
Current projects and system upgrades underway
talkgroups were predominantly law enforcement spread across the
On July 13, 2022 the Federal Energy and Commerce Com mittee passed H.R. 7624 (the “Spectrum Innovation Act of 2022”), which would make available additional frequencies in the 3.1-3.45 gigahertz band for non-federal use, shared federal and non-federal use, or a combination thereof. H.R. 7624 would also fund the Secure and Trusted Reimbursement Program and a newly authorized Next Generation 9-1-1 grant program from the proceeds of the auction required by the bill. The information pertained in the above mentioned reports is being used by federal agencies to prioritize possible grant funding for NG911 infrastructure utilizing the sale of spectrum frequencies, as stated in H.R. 7624.
This allows Motorola APX radios already on WyoLink to connect and operate via LTE or WiFi when radios go out of range of a WyoLink site. Smart Connect will allow users an alternate communications path through WyoLink, helping ensure critical traffic gets to the user. This could be a more cost effective solution in many locations such as: Schools, Government buildings & basements. The Cheyenne Police Department recently started using this feature successfully in some schools that had challenges with reliable radio coverage. Critical and Smart connect provides an additional method for inter-operable communications for multiple agencies. WyoLink 20 state.
• DC Power Plant replacement, 19 sites upgraded this year.
• Newcastle: Collocate design under approval with Union. Lease has been signed, construction schedule is un derway.
• Northern Goshen County: Construc tion underway, estimated completion is September/October 2022.
• Orin Junction: Site active (4/20/20) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
In 2018, WYDOT secured $16 million in Federal Highway Administration Funds (FHWA) for enhanced build-out expansion of 16 tower sites. All tower development and design will follow the FHWA construction requirements. WyoLink end user experience, coverage testing, and overall benefit to WyoLink were factors used to determine the site locations, and priorities for improved coverage.Thefollowing represents a brief update on the status and noteworthy accom plishments for each site location into the month March 2022.
10 Interchange n September 2022 WYOLINK 16 Site Expansion Project Status
• Buffalo: Site active (3/24/20) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
• Rock Springs (14 Mile Hill): Site active 6/2022 Microwave Donor site (Aspen Mountain) required new tow er.
• Bondurant: Lease has been approved by Sublette County and WYDOT, awaiting AG’s signature, then sched uling; completion will be dependent upon weather conditions. n
• Ten Sleep (Meadowlark): Construc tion is underway (USFS assisted with expediting a road use agreement). Completion scheduled for spring/ summer 2022 due to supply delays and weather.
• Jackson: Site active (announced 1/11/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
• Evanston: Construction underway, estimated completion is September/ October 2022.
• Rock Springs (Blairtown-Tank Hill): Site active (announced 10/8/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
• Wright: Site active (6/26/20) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
• Lusk: Site active (announced 4/21/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
• Greybull: Site active (announced 1/11/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
• Alva: Site active (announced 6/3/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
• Alcova: Site active (announced 4/21/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.
• North Big Horn County (Little Sheep Mnt): Construction under way, completion will be depend upon weather conditions.
Dave Hammond, District 1 land surveyor, received the Wyoming Officials Hall of Fame plaque.
By Andrea Staley
Some may know Dave Hammond the District Land Surveyor for WYDOT District 1, having held that position since 1993. But he also has quite a reputation as being one of the most respected sporting officials in the state. On July 22, Hammond was inducted into the Wyoming Officials Hall of Fame, in a ceremony celebrating his many years and dedication to the sports he officiates. Having started his offi ciating tenure in 1982 with football, Hammond decid ed that one sport was not enough and began officiating basketball in 1984. Years tallied, he has faithfully offi ciated football for 40 years, including many playoff and championship games, and basketball for 26. Hammond also traveled and officiated many college football games. When asked what began his interest in officiating, he replied, “Andy Long, a long time friend and WYDOT coworker, asked me to start officiating football with a crew in Laramie and it took off fromHammondthere.” made sure to convey that while the importance of calling a fair game was what he always striven to do, the friend ship and camaraderie he shares with the other officials has been the true pleasure of his work.
Wyoming Officials Hall of Fame Inductee Dave Hammond
HammondDavecourtesyPhoto Hammond
September 2022 n Interchange 11 Noteworthy
Mr. Hammond wears many hats, but clearly one of his favorite is being a Wyoming Official, a job he does so well. If you see Dave out on the jobsite, or officiating a game, be sure to say hello and congratulate him on the honor. n
FameofHallOfficialsAssociation/WyomingCoachesWyomingHammond/DavecourtesyPhoto
“One thing always got me, we would be criss-crossing all over the state in the middle of winter. Leaving Friday afternoon, returning late Friday night from high school games. College Football games we would leave at noon on Friday and get back Sunday afternoon. Those were long weekends, lots of windshield time. We always traveled together and those were some of my favorite memories. You really get to know your team.” And that is what they are, a team. “As officials, we walk on the field or court as a team, and officiate the team of players with the hope that someday, some of those players will become officials to complete the circle.” Dave has had the pleasure of being men tored by many officials over the years that have helped him grow and be a better official. “I owe them a HUGE thank you for their help.”The honor of being inducted into the Wyoming Officials Hall of Fame was never on Dave’s radar. “I was quite surprised, you have to be recommended for the honor and I didn’t realize I had been. Trevor Wilson, Logan Wilson’s father, had called me to congratulate me for the induction into the Hall of Fame, I was totally blown away.” Many officials and coaches Dave had worked with through out his illustrious officiating career had attended the ceremony. “One coach came up to me at the ceremony, and doing games for him wasn’t the easiest, but he said ‘I always knew when your crew showed up to do the game it would be called the same for each team and I really respect that.’ I also tried not to do games in Laramie to avoid favoritism, but a lot of the local coaches are happy to have our crew there.”
• A tour of Laramie County Commu nity College, including a special look at their nursing and diesel technology programs;
A Wyoming welcome Wyoming hosts Tunisian visitors through National Guard State Partnership Program
The State Partnership Program has been building partnerships for over 25 years, including 85 partnerships with 93 nations around the world. For more infor mation about the program, visit: state-partnership-program/staff/j-5/international-affairs-division/www.nationalguard.mil/leadership/joint-https://
FRANCENational Guard State Partnership members with Col.-Maj. Triaa Moez (fifth from right).
By Jordan Achs
a few days in the Equality State and got a tour of key areas around southeast and central Wyoming, including:
• A meeting with Wyoming National Guard’s 84th Civil Support Team and the Air Nation al Guard thediscussionwithDepartmentFirealongaround-tablewithWyomingOffice of Homeland Security and WNG;
• A tour of the Capitol complex; • A tour of the Wyoming State Museum and the Frontier Days Old West Muse um in Cheyenne;
12 Interchange n September 2022 Noteworthy
• A tour of the University of Wyoming in Laramie, where they met with officials from various departments, including President Edward Seidel, about otherCenter,andLaramiestudentsinternationalagriculture,andtheResearchExtensionamongtopics;
• A tour of Eastern Wyoming Commu nity College in Torrington; • Meetings with Wyoming Stock Grow ers, Wyoming Game and Fish, and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture; and • Tours of the Casper Airport, Casper Interagency Dispatch and tours around Guernsey.
As part of the tour, Triaa Moez, a colonel-major with Civil Protection in Tunisia, spent some time with Wyoming Highway Patrol Major Karl Germain and other Troopers and K9s to share ideas and innovations about law enforcement in rural areas. Major Germain was also a member of a round-table discussion on Civil Protection during the Tunisian visit.
n VecteezybyVectorsNamesCountryWithMapWorld
WHPPhoto:
Security/WyomingHomelandWyomingofcourtesyPhoto
For the last 18 years, Tunisia, the northern most county in Africa, and the alpopulations,similaritiesmingForinterestsnationsmatchesProgram.StateNationalpartneredNationalWyomingGuardhavethroughtheGuardBureau’sPartnershipTheprogramGuardstowithcompatibleandeconomies.example,WyoandTunisiasharelikeruralagriculturlifestyles,andharshweather.Tunisianofficialsrecentlyspent
Maj. Karl Germain with Col.-Maj. Triaa Moez with Civil Protection in Tunisia.
By Amy Bale, Training Services
Visit the Training Services intranet page f m e inf mation. Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.
4. The TRC will review and approve or deny your application and you will be notified before the class start date.
Fall classes - Aug. 1-Dec. 31 May 1 (same year)
Coming in October: Date Development Stage Class Description Class Hours Location 10/10/2022 New Employee Know WY Google and WELL Training 8:30am-11:30am VILT 10/25/2022 Leading Self Franklin Covey’s The Speed of Trust 8:30am-4:30pm Cheyenne *All new employees are assigned the Know WY Learning Plan and should register for one of these Know WY workshops in the WELL
1. You’ll need to have a discussion with your supervisor regard ing your educational or career goals, 2. Complete and submit the online application to include an Education Plan (found in the online application).
Leading The Agency Team Building: Appreciating the Styles of the Team 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Cheyenne 9/22/2022 Technical MPC Research: Cellulose Nanofiber 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. VILT as an Asphalt Mix Additive 9/29/2022 Technical MPC 597: Removal of Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. VILT from Stormwater
Did you know that WYDOT is one of the only state agencies to offer tuition reimbursement to its employees? Tuition reim bursement allows an employee to further their formal education, and, with approval from their supervisor or program manager, the agency reimburses the employee up to 75% of their tuition costs per class. The policy has recently been updated to reflect significant changes to the process. In the past, approval required an employ ee to fill out the Tuition Reimbursement Form PER-4 and get it approved by their manager, Division Administrator, and the Training Services manager before enrolling in the class. Now, a Tuition Reimbursement Committee (TRC) will review each application and determine eligibility for reimbursement depending on the applicant’s PMI, the courses requested, the benefits to WYDOT, and the potential time or productivity lost while the employee is taking classes. This new process assures more objectivity and fairness in the approval process.
You can read the full policy and find the new application on the Training Services intranet page, but here are the highlights:
Tuition reimbursement policy 2022
3. The Tuition Reimbursement application must be submitted by the following deadline dates: CLASS START DATE APPLICATION DEADLINE
Spring classes - Jan. 1-July 31 Oct. 1 (previous year)
Stage Class Description Class Hours Location 9/7/2022 Leading Others WY Supervise New Supervisors Workshop COHORT C 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Blended 9/12/2022 New Employee Google, WELL and Intranet Basics – In-Person Training 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Various 9/14/2022 Technical MPC 683: Analysis of ABC Column-to-Footing Joints 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. VILT 9/15/2022 Technical MPC Research: Unravel The Impact of 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. VILT COVID-19 on Microtransit 9/22/2022
5. Reimbursement will be made to your paycheck following submission of course completion documents up to $5,250 per calendar year. There are other important changes to the policy, so be sure to read it completely before submitting your application by access ing the information on the Training Services intranet pages. Please contact Jim Boyd at 777-4791 or james.boyd@wyo.gov if you have any specific questions. n
in StartSeptember:DateDevelopment
September 2022 n Interchange 13 Training NEW!
Training@aGlance
In Wyoming, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher are considered impaired by law. Over the last five years, the majority (44.3%) of confirmed alcohol-im paired drivers had a BAC between 0.160-0.259%, indicating severe intoxication and impairment. Approximately 33.9% had a BAC between 0.080-0.159%, indicating substantial intoxication and impairment. In addition, 11.6% had a BAC of 0.260% and higher, which can lead to loss of consciousness, coma, and possible death. About 10.2% of confirmed alcohol-impaired drivers had a BAC below the legal limit. Around 36.5% of suspected alcohol-impaired drivers had unknown BAC test results.
The majority of impaired crashes occurred Friday through Sunday (54.4%), with Saturday having the highest number of impaired crashes out of all of the days of the week (20.8%). Most impaired crashes occurred between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. (64.7%) with a significant number of impaired crashes occurring between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. (21.3%).
In Wyoming, during the most recent five-year period (20172021), 4,145 traffic crashes were impaired crashes, which ac counts for nearly 6% of all crashes. These impaired crashes included 592 critical crashes (27.4% of all critical crashes), 1,195 serious crashes (11.3% of all serious crashes), and 2,358 damage crashes (4.1% of all damage crashes). Impaired crashes resulted in 257 fatal injuries, 483 suspected serious injuries, 1,080 suspected minor injuries, and 625 possible injuries.When looking at critical crashes over this five-year period, nearly 40.6% of fatal crashes (219) and 23% of suspected serious injury crashes (373) were impaired crashes. For 2017-2021, the majority of impaired crashes (74.1%) involved alcohol use only. Around 12.7% of impaired crashes involved drug use only. Approximately 13.2% of impaired crashes involved the use of both alcohol and drugs.
The highest number of crashes occurred between 9:00-9:59 p.m. (7.8%). n
Highway Safety
Any amount of alcohol indicated by testing qualifies as alco hol involved. Any positive test indication for illegal or controlled prescription medications qualifies as drug involved. An impaired person may have used alcohol, drugs, or both.
By Kari Fictum, Highway Safety
Over the last five years, 34.8% of drivers suspected of drug use tested positive, while only 6.4% tested negative. The remaining 58.8% of drivers suspected of drug use had unknown drug test results. Of the confirmed drug-impaired drivers with a positive drug test result, 42.4% did not have the type of drug detected by the drug test reported.
14 Interchange n September 2022
While the consumption of marijuana remains illegal in Wyoming, the majority of drug-impaired drivers with a positive drug test result that included the type of drug detected had mar ijuana in their system at the time of the crash (43%). The next most common drug detected was Amphetamine, with 29% of drug-impaired drivers with an identifiable drug type having this drug in their system at the time of the crash.
Most impaired drivers were male (73.7%), with females accounting for 24.7%, and unknown gender 1.6%. Male drivers aged 21-44 years old accounted for 48.1% of impaired drivers, with most (19.7%) being 26-34 years old. The majority of im paired drivers involved in fatal crashes were male (81.8%), with most being 26-34 years old and 35-44 years old, with each group accounting for 18.2%.
Impaired crashes are crashes in which law enforcement doc umented at least one driver or non-motorist directly involved in the crash had used alcohol and/or drugs, or alcohol and/or drug use were suspected and test results are pending/unknown.
Impaired Crashes
CMV-Involved Fatalities: 8
September 2022 n Interchange 15 FAST FACTS Wyoming crash data from 2017-2021 report that:
• BAC levels for the majority of alcohol-impaired drivers (44.3%) indicated severe intoxication and impairment.
Blood Alcohol Concentration: The concentration of alcohol in a person’s blood that negatively influences their ability to function normally. Crash categories: Critical Crashes – fatal and suspected serious injury crashes. Serious Crashes – suspected minor injury and possible injury crashes. Damage Crashes – no apparent injury and injury unknown crashes. crash data August 2022 vs. (August 2021): (61) (283) (20) (0) (7) (12) (10) (6) (29) current as of 08/10/2022
Serious Injuries: 247
Drug-Involved Fatalities: 2
Data
• The majority of impaired crashes involved alcohol use only (74.1%).
TechNotes New color categorization in Calendar to better understand how you’re spending your time via Google Workspace Updates In 2021, Google launched Time Insights, a feature that gives users the ability to better understand how time is spent in Google Calendar. Now, users can categorize time by naming and assigning a corresponding color label to an event within Time Insights in Calendar.Thiscustomizable breakdown feature will allow users to more easily track time spent on specific activities or strategic areas, such as project work, staff meetings, or meetings with specific colleagues and stakeholders. n
WorkspaceGooglecourtesyScreenshots
Motorcycle-Involved Fatalities: 4
Speed-Related Fatalities: 22
Google Workspace Time Insights for Calendar allows users to color-code their meetings or time blocks to show how time is being used.
Bicycle-Involved Fatalities: 0
Alcohol-Involved Fatalities: 11
• The most common drug indicat ed by testing for drug-impaired drivers was marijuana.
•
• Nearly 40.6% of all fatal crashes were impaired crashes, resulting in 257 fatalities.
BY NUMBERSTHE Wyoming
• Around 6% of all crashes were impaired crashes. Impairment was a contributing factor in approximately 27.4% of all critical crashes.
Fatalities: 44
Pedestrian-Involved Fatalities: 4
A reward is being offered for information on this case, and informants are urged to call the Stop Poaching Tip Line at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847). Tips can also be made by texting keyword WGFD and message to 847-411 or can be made online at Informantshttps://wgfapps.wyo.gov/StopPoaching/submitTIp.aspxcanremainanonymous.
Game & Fish
Employee Safety
How do I chock?
• Make sure the chocks are pushed into the center of the tire, even with the tire. Wheel chocks are being issued across the state, many shipments have already been delivered. In the near future you will see chocks for all required equipment, vehicles and trailers in your area. n
All equipment, unless it is tracked. Regardless of size, all equipment must be chocked when parked, even equipment with implements that have downward pressure capabilities. In the event of a mechanical failure the down pressure will bleed off.
• Avoid parking on steep grades. If you MUST park on a steep grade then chock BOTH of the downhill tires.
16 Interchange n September 2022
• All trailers need to be chocked when not attached to a host vehicle. This includes trailers that have stabilizing legs or outriggers. (Unless the tires are lifted off the ground.)
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking infor mation about a bull elk that was poached along Highway 34 in Sybille Canyon in early August. Sometime between the evening of Aug. 5 and the morning of Aug. 6, a mature bull elk was shot along WYO 34 approximately 2.5 miles west of the Thorne/Williams Wildlife Research Center. The elk’s head and antlers were removed between the evening of Aug. 6 and the morning of Aug. 7.
• All vehicles that are rated F-550 and above – F-550, GM5500, International, etc. – this includes all commercial vehicles. Even if the truck is equipped with a plow, the vehicle must be chocked. A main plow, wing plow, or blade, does not count as a chock, these implements are designed to be on the ground when the vehicle is moving.
Most organizations, including WYDOT, have policies that re quire trailers, equipment and larger vehicles to be chocked when parked, or being serviced. Please review proper wheel chocking procedures below and ensure they are being used in your area.
WGFD seeks info on Sybille Canyon elk poaching
Wheel chocking procedures
By Erik Brannigan, District 4 Safety Representative
•
“It is unfortunate this elk was taken out of season and was left to waste. We are asking for the public’s assistance with bringing forward information with this investigation,” says Matt Withrod er, Laramie Regional wildlife supervisor.
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What needs to be chocked?
CHOCKCAUTION:WHEELSWHENEVERTHISVEHICLEISPARKED
• When a vehicle is parked on a level grade, chock one of the rear wheels. One chock placed in front and behind the same tire. Do not chock the steer tires. Chocking a single steer tire will not effectively keep the vehicle from moving.
It’s a time to recognize and thank local Driver Services offices and employees for their commitment to registering the public as organ, eye and tissue donors each and every day. In addition, those employees help to educate Wyoming residents on donation by answering their customers’ questions. We encourage individuals to take a moment in September to offer a word of gratitude or share a donation and transplantation story with your local Driver Services staff. Above and beyond their daily tasks, these individuals prioritize helping the public with their donation questions and registering their decision to give the gift of life. With 99% of Wyoming residents joining the donor registry through their local office, and contributing to Wyoming ranking 4th in the nation for the highest donor desig nation rate, these staff are integral to Donor Alliance’s ability to continue to save lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. n
September 2022 n Interchange 17 National AppreciationDMV Thank you for saving lives every day. DonateLife.net Driver Services Donate Life Wyoming – September is National DMV Appreciation Month Wyoming Driver Services – helping Donate Life save lives one question at a time!
Kevin Schmid retired on July 16 as a project engineer from the Hydraulics secion of the Bridge program with 22 years of ser vice to the state. n
Richard Joyner retired on July from the Cheyenne I-25 Port of Entry as port supervisor. He retires with 24 years of ser vice to the state. Joyner began his career as a POE spe cialist in Laramie in April 1998. In 2006, he was promoted to lead officer at the Cheyenne I-25 Port.
Diane Land retired from Highway Pa trol Dispatch on July 21 with 11 years of service to the state. She began her career with WYDOT in July 2011.
18 Interchange n September 2022 District News Headquarters Welcome Jayden Benzel, Geology; Emma Gregg, Emergency Communications-Ad ministration; Dominique Thomas, Patrol-Support Services; Ted Young, Emergency Communications-District 1 Radio Shop. Promotions and Transfers Anthony Abeyta, Facilities Man agement-Administration; Rosalie Claypool, Financial Services-Gener al Ledger; Mark Coler, Communications-WYOLINK;EmergencyKyle Creswell, Materials-Pavement Manage ment Systems; Alton Garcia, Highway Development-Project Development; Job Lopez, Materials-Bituminous; Bryan Martin, Patrol-Support Services; Jonas Ostmeyer, GIS/ITS; Kristina Powers, Highway Development-Project Develop ment-Utilities; Michael Whisenhunt, Driver Services-CDL; Clinton Williams, Patrol-Support Services. Service Awards
Kevin Messman, Planning-Truck Weight – 35 years; Curtis Olson, Maintenance Staff – 30 years; Alisha Reese, Materials-Surfacing – 20 years; Michael Flaim, Highway ment-Photogrammetry/SurveyDevelop–15years; John Radomicki, Materials-Bitumi nous – 15 years; Timothy Romig, Patrol-Support Ser vices Operations – 15 years; Sarah Abbott, Patrol-Dispatch – 10 years; Autumn Sanchez, Office Ser vices-Files – 10 years; and Stephanie Lowe, Environmental Ser vices – 5 years.
GarciaAbeyta
Flaim Joyner Messman Romig Schmid Olson
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Robert Roland (right) presenting Gerald Collicott with his 20 year service award.
Retirements
nancetosincerestReinerDirectorimmediately.LukeexpressedhisgratitudeDistrict3MainteEngineer
Richard Carpenter, Laramie Traf fic-Striping – 5 years; and Galvin Sandoval, Laramie Mainte nance – 5 years. Retirements
Welcome Connie Archuleta, District 3 Main tenance Staff; Luann Chambers, Port of Entry-Evanston; Clancy Gines, Pa trol-Rock Springs; Jeremiah Nicholls, Evanston Maintenance; Isabel Saave dra, Port of Entry-Evanston; Jonathan Zmolek, Traffic-Signing. Promotions and Transfers Graham Cox, GIS/ITS; Serena Jor gensen, Port of Entry-Alpine Junction; Brian Rushing, Patrick Draw Mainte nance; Jesse Zumpfe, Labarge Mainte nance.
September 2022 n Interchange 19
Welcome Brian Parnell, Douglas Mechanics; and Valerie Patmore, Patrol-Casper. Retirements Wayne Fox retired July 16 from Muddy Gap Maintenance with 38 years of service, having began his career at the Muddy Gap shop in December 1983. He retired as maintenance foreman. A retirement party was held for him on July 14. Fox and his family will remain in the Muddy Gap area at the family ranch. n District 3
Welcome John Dryden, Cheyenne Mainte nance. AwardsService James Chesnut, Medicine Bow Main tenance – 20 years; Ted Gallegos, Lara mie Construction – 15 years; Justin Fehlberg, Cheyenne Mainte nance – 10 years;
Service Awards
ChesnutFehlbergGallegos Dryden Carpenter Sandoval Lacy Parnell Wayne
David Lacy retired July 9 from the Laramie Port of Entry as a Port supervisor with 38 years of ser vice to the state. Lacy, a Cheyenne native, began his career with the state in April 1984 as a permit field officer in Evanston.
WYDOTPhoto: Hunsaker
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Robert “Tony” Ro bidoux retired on July 30 with 37 years of service to the state. Robidoux was a heavy mechanic supervisor in Rawlins. n
Tony
District 1
Chris Hunsaker, Afton Mechanics –20 years; Karen Bartek, Driver Services-Rock Springs – 15 years; Brandon Deckert, Patrol-Evanston –15 years; Sarah Powell, Patrol-Rock Springs –10 years. Congratulations Current District 3 Construction Engineer, Peter Stinchcomb, will serve as the new interim District Engineer for D3, effective Tory Thomas, who filled the role of interim DE for the past two leadingness“Stinchcomb’syears.willtostepupandtheDistrictthrough such an uncer tain time is much appreciated,” said Rein er. “I value the hard work and initiative of all D3 employees as you continue to meet WYDOT’s mission during the search for such a key leadership position.”
District 2
Executive staff continues efforts to re cruit a new permanent District Engineer for D3. n Fox at his retirement party July 14. Deckert Stinchcomb Robidoux at his retirement party with District Engineer Ralph Tarango.
20 Interchange n September 2022 District 4 Welcome Chad Dollick, Patrol-Gillette; Noah Goodwin, Maintenance.Sheridan AwardsService Andy Harkins, Port of Entry-Sheridan – 10 years; and Brian Kessler, Patrol-Sheridan – 10 years. n District 5 Welcome Vernon Allphin, Lovell Maintenance; Danny Cox Jr., Patrol-Cody; Neal Hansey, Lander Maintenance; James Wenzel, Basin Maintenance. Service Awards Alesha Dern, Dis trict 5 Maintenance Staff – 15 years; Travis Hauser, Patrol-Lander – 15 years; and Doyle Yarbrough, District 5 Construc tion Staff – 5 years. n Service award luncheons are held by the Transportation Commission for employees celebrating milestones of 25 years of service or greater. Service award recipients at this month’s luncheon: (standing from left) William “Buck” Stevenson, 30 years; Brenden Schaefer, 25 years; and Robert Betz, 25 years. (seated from left) Chad Mathews, 35 years; Jeff Brown, 35 years; and John Perkins, 25 years. CarpenterRickPhoto: Service Award Recipients Goodwin Harkins Kessler Dern Hauser Yarbrough Total number of WHPTotalOneAug.employees:Asof11,20221,768monthago1,781Oneyearago1,846numberofhighwayfatalities:AsofAug.11,202262Oneyearago68
Employees at the Casper office were able to participate in their summer employee ap preciation cookout on July 27. The cookout has been held for the past two or three years according to District 2 Public Involvement Specialist Jeff Goetz. Burgers and all the fix in’s were provided. More cookouts in District 2 were scheduled for Douglas and Wheat land. District staff were on hand July 27 as the “chefs extraordinares” for the events. Headquarters campus also held an employee appreciation barbecue on Aug. 11. Executive staff did the grilling and WTDEA Headquarters chapter members helped out manning the chip, soda and dessert tables. The weather was perfect to enjoy an outdoor lunch and there was a great turnout. n
CarpenterRickPhoto: There was a good turnout on a beautiful day in Cheyenne for the barbecue.
Wes Shafer, Casper maintenance supervisor, shows off his lunch during the employee ap preciation cookout July 27.
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Employee appreciation barbecues
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Above: Kaycee Highway Maintenance Tech Tracey Firnekas (right) starts through the line at the Casper employee appreciation cookout held Wed., July 27. GoetzJeffPhoto:Manning the Executive Staff outdoor kitchen was (from left): Chief Financial Officer Dennis Byrne, Chief Engineer Mark Gillett, Public Affairs Officer Doug McGee, Emergency Communications Program Manager Nathan Smolinski and Assistant Chief Engineer Engineering and Planning Keith Fulton.
September 2022 n Interchange 21
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Sheridan Skilled Trades Manager Kirby Goodvin and six-year-old son, Grayson, brought down a giant while on a hunt last September. While Grayson did the bugling to get the elk into the open, Kirby skirted around with his bow to get a good shot, wounding the elk. Another shot from Goodvin finalized the hunt. The harvest was even featured in Western Hunter Magazine.
22 Interchange n September 2022 Please bring a personalcare or non-perishablefood item as a Friday,donation.October 215:30 to 7:30 p.m.WYDot Car barn5300 Bishop Blvd. Outdoors
n 2 0 2 3 W T D E A R E L I E F F U N D WYDOTPhoto:If you miss a specific food truck one week, try it the next time. WYDOTPhoto: Some Thursdays have had too many choices. Never fear! The lines were long but moved fast. WYDOTPhoto: Work groups came out in force to sit in the sunshine, or find a shady spot, to just unwind and enjoy WYDOT camaraderie and a nice lunch not far from their desks. Food truck Thursdays have given many something to look forward to. WYDOTPhoto:
Interchange 23 WTDEA
Food truck Thursdays at Headquarters
A new addition to Headquarters cam pus this summer has been the bi-weekly Thursday food truck event. Each of the Thursdays have seen at least two local food trucks to greet hungry WYDOT employees, as well as our neighbors from nearby F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wy oming Army National Guard, Wyoming Game and Fish and Homeland Security.
Food truck choices have included ta cos, burritos, barbecue of many varieties, cupcakes, ice cream and Philly chees esteak sandwiches. The special Thurs day lunches have been quite a treat this summer.
K-9 Hunter
J. Riley Busacker, 78, of Cheyenne, passed away Aug. 19 surrounded by his family after a cou rageous dementia journey. He was born Jan. 21, 1944, in Chey enne, to Howard and Rowena offirstandHighfromBusackerBusacker.graduatedCheyenneEastSchoolin1962attendedcollege,attheUniversityColorado-Boulder,before transferring to Laramie to attend the University of Wyoming.Inthesummer of 1971, he returned to Cheyenne. On March 25, 1972, he mar ried Jacqueline Cheese and they raised two children, Chauncey and Ashley. Busacker was a contractor for 10 years in Cheyenne before beginning his 27 years of service as a state employee. He worked at multiple state agencies before finishing his career in the Bridge section of WYDOT. He retired from Bridge in 2009 with 27 years of service. In his spare time was a skilled carpen ter and enjoyed sharing his talent with friends, relatives and the community. His love of carpentry is evident by his vast collection of building supplies and tools. He enjoyed a friendly game of cribbage with his coworkers. In retirement, he found joy in golf and recounting the round afterwards with the guys. He was an avid sports fan, rarely missing Wyoming Cowboy football and basketball games. He was a dedicated Cheyenne Fron tier Days volunteer for 50 years, and was elected to the Cheyenne Frontier Days HEELS organization in 1975. Busacker was a member of the Cowboy Joe Club, Old West Museum, ELKS Lodge, the Cheyenne Quarterback Club and the Airport Golf Club. A memorial service was held Aug. 27 at the Wiederspahan-Radomsky Chapel followed by a reception at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Buckle Club.
J. Riley Busacker
Linda K. Reid
24 Interchange n September 2022 Passings
Linda Kay Reid, 71, died Aug 8, surrounded by her family at home in Cheyenne.Shewas born in Cheyenne on Jan. 15, 1951, to Russell and Ruth Phelps of Cheyenne and made this her home her entire life. Reid grad uated from Cheyenne Central High School in 1969.Atthe age of 17, she began her first and only job with WYDOT in the Project Development section, where she had a hand in designing many of the roads throughout Wyoming. Reid retired from WYDOT in June 2002 with 34 years of service.OnMay 23, 1989, she married the man of her dreams, Stu Reid, and they were married for more than 33 years. Together they enjoyed traveling, working on house projects, spending time with family and cheering for the Green Bay Packers and Colorado Rockies. Reid and her husband were inseparable over the years. She enjoyed many hobbies and when not spending time with her grandchildren or husband, you could find her wood working, sewing, quilting, cross stitching and working on puzzles. She was a very intelligent, creative and innovative person with an admirable ability to think outside the box when it came to making things. One of her pieces can be found in the Dubois Military Museum in Dubois. Her goals and desires for retirement were to spend as much time as possible with her grandchildren. Reid was a loving wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, sis ter and aunt. She was a wonderful friend to many, and a devoted “dog mom” to her beloved dogs throughout her life. She will be very greatly missed.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol is saddened to report the passing of retired narcotics detection K-9, Hunter, Aug. 11. K-9 Hunter was acquired in 2010 for narcotics detection work and paired initially with Sergeant Jeremy Beck (2010 - 2017), who is now assigned to the Safety and Training Section at Headquarters in Cheyenne as the Wy oming Highway Patrol’s Public Informa tionMostOfficer.recently, K-9 Hunter and his handler, Trooper Scott Neilson, were assigned to Division ‘D’ in Lyman (2017 - 2019). K-9 Hunter served the state of Wyoming for a total of nine years and, during that time, was deployed 418 times resulting in several cases where illegal narcotics were seized. K-9 Hunter was involved in the seizure of more than 1,069 pounds of marijuana, 136.1 grams of co caine, 4.7 pounds of methamphetamine, 35.1 grams of heroin and 1.3 pounds of other illegal narcotics. K-9 Hunter was also instrumental in the seizure of illicit funds generated from the trafficking of narcotics of over $382,667.00 of U.S. Currency. At the time of K-9 Hunter’s retirement in September 2019, he was the longest-serving K-9 on Highway Patrol K-9K-9Team.Hunter spent his remaining days with the Neilson family and spent his last week running around chasing his ball and swimming while the family was enjoying the lake. He passed away peacefully on his favorite bed next to the wood-burning stove.Our condolences to Trooper Neilson and his family. Hunter will be missed. n Reid HunterBusacker
Just thought I would give overdue delayed kudos today. Eric Quayle via email Motor Vehicle Services aims to please Editor’s note: This thank you note was written to Jana Molland in MVS for a job well done. Thank you for caring and doing your job in such an efficient manner. We ap preciated you so very much.
I hope in all future chip sealing proj ects, this procedure can be implemented to control traffic to a safe speed. Thank you for your dedicated work keeping Wyoming’s Highways beautiful and safe. I really appreciate it. Ron Hammer via email
Chip sealing job commended
I was traveling on that section July 28 and July 30, pulling my travel trailer and really appreciated the controlled flow of traffic. The traffic was used resourcefully to pack in the newly applied gravel with out it flying up in my windshield. I know without pilot vehicles controlling the speed, a lot of inconsiderate people would have passed me and kicked up the gravel.
carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.govSept.deadline:photos15
September 2022 n Interchange 25 Outdoors Where have you been lately? Outdoors
I applaud Cody Beers (District 5 Pub lic Involvement Specialist) and WYDOT for the excellent job done on the chip sealing project on Wyoming Highway 20 north of Shoshoni. Using pilot vehicles to control traffic to maintain 45 mph speed both directions was brilliantly done.
Snowplows save the day
Corrine and Melodee Marienthal
The WYDOT Headquarters 2022 United Way campaign kicks off this month • Your donation has the power to impact your friends; your neighbors; your child’s classmates; maybe even your own family. • Every donation goes directly toward fostering hope and opportunity in your county. • Laramie County donors who pledge $180.00 or more will be entered into a $15,000 car voucher drawing. • Keep an eye on your email for pledge card Thankinformation.youforyour support! n lP e a se Recycle afteRRead i n !g
Letters
Snowplows out of Purple Sage, Wyo ming, were a beacon of humanity in an abrupt storm that threatened my success ful transit through US 191 last fall/winter.
26 Interchange n September 2022 Federally insured by NCUA NMLS #456099 THEARERATESONRISE! LOCK IN YOUR LOW HELOC RATES TODAY. Take the equity you already have in your home and use it for an improvement project, to pay for college, or to consolidate your debt. (800) WYHY.ORG/EQUITY442-2392 IntrchgMag 7.875x10.375 8-22.indd 1 8/11/22 3:51 PM
September 2022 n Interchange 27 Break Time 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. CurrentName address City, State, Zip Previous address City, State, Zip Add me to the mailing list EmployeeRetiree 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. 5 6 4 9 8 7 61 2 2 7 6 48 3 2 36 8 618 9 5 6 7 6 5 7 8 1329 7 2 6 9 5 3 14 8 24 4 3 9 7 9 2 5 8 9 4 53 2 1 9 7 84 8 7 1 3 1 3 5 2 5 6 1 3 4 19 4 5 7 Answer to the August 2022 Break Time Sudoku puzzle: 1. Apples 2. Autumn 3. Bicycles 4. Books 5. Boots 6. Classrooms 7. Corn Mazes 8. Equinox 9. Fairs 10. Football 11. Funnel Cakes 12. Harvest 13. Homework 14. Labor Day 15. Orchard 16. Picnics 17. Pumpkins 18. Raking 19. Rodeo 20. School Buses 21. Soccer 22. Summertime 23. Sunflowers 24. Sweaters 25. Teachers See if you can find the following 25 words hidden in the grid to the right: N O C H M S B M O R E R O A D S I D E D I N M E Y R S B E R O A O A U C O W B E L L S O C C E R Q B A F O H S L W D L R N M Z A R K A N S A R S Z J Y U O C R M Y E T U B E L V D E Z E B R A S S C P H O O D O I E D P S Q I E O R E E A D A X M O N K H E Y S S Z K X L S I L U U A P P L E S Y I R C S U P A R T E W X S I K E A H P M A O H I O G T J E D O L E R E N H I E Y B A B Y W Y R M L O R E G E S O L S A R D D V N G A A O W L S P A N E A E M L O R E F H M B S E S E S U N D T Y U I H U S T Y R E N E L J Q I N O W T R R A K I N G E H J T I M C I Q T W Z Q U B U B R X Q A U I Z D R T G R K B O N P A N O R X P M N I A D A R T H R I T I S H J S Z R N G K L G Z E V B C D C A V I F H A D A M I L L I E O N E F I I S E A S O N I Y G E C S R A L L O D N O R T O N T H N F F O U S P L O C R N O I N V E N T O R O W U M R S F S R R M S A E U N L E R N P T W E B B Y X S D F E E R O Y O D I S P A P R E N E N I G O T O G M O F F U R W J O T N O L V E C O A S W D E C N O P E I M L U T E S R E T U I S U B C H R C H I I C N S E T E E O N A N S H O R B E A O N X I E A B L C S T I R A R W R N H S A L A O S A S Z T A H B S E P R H N I C F C H I E A B A S T E K E L D F P A L I S A D E W Q C S O E D L R I Z O N A R I Y L A R T E A C H E R S R A U L R C C F O R T S T A R E S T Y I C E C R E S P O T T E E R A I K O W S A U T U M N L M D K L A U A M D S P S T R K E S N S G C S N Z T N T P I A C H A S T E R D W E S E M O C O U E A O O E H O A N T Y E S U Z O P A T T V S N O H H X N O R U R Q E X G I A K U A T E X K M E B I N E N A O U B R O T T U C I N W S M G N I T O W I N O R E W T D O S E G L H E I U O U N M A N D R T I I S N O G V M A I L E A I I E W N R R Y E N I V I A N S I S E T I A E N A B R M A N Q U O E E R G B A D N D C M N O S S N D X T H U R S D A C Y X Z T O T S W E I O N T N U S X I A I B I S C A P R I L L I M O R R O A N I S E I R E E A M C Z A E R T T U B A M R V E N W N S H O M E W O R K E E O E D S F L Y T G E C O L G H A I L L I N O I S A T I N G M L I T E R A L L Y P K X
Cheyenne,U.S.Pre-sortedStandardPostagePaidWY82009PermitNo.24Interchange Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd. Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340 Address Service Requested IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE MOVE OVER. IT’S THE LAW DO THIS
