From building schools, businesses and churches, these early settlers also developed water systems, power infrastructure and trade routes that today’s citizens still owe much of their lifestyle.

The Afton Heritage Committee will induct their inaugural Hall of Fame class this Saturday as part of Independence Day celebrations and as part of the Afton Civic Center’s Grand Opening.

Be sure to click below for exclusive footage of Mr. Larry Call, Chairman of the Afton Heritage Committee as he discusses the six inductees, Anson Vasco Call II, William Walton Burton, Dr. George Washington West, Osborne Lowe, Anie Rebecca Seward Kennington and Clarence Gardner,  and speaks about this week’s Heritage Jubilee.

According to the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) there is an average of 231 percent of snow water, which equals 112 percent average of total precipitation for this region.

According to the NRCS the snow pack percentage at the Salt River Summit and Willow Creek in the Star Valley region was at 100 percent in the final readings this spring. The Wind River Range in Sublette County was at 117 percent of average.

With increasing pressure to drill for more oil and gas on public lands in the West, the governors emphasized the need for a rational federal energy policy that includes diverse sources including fossil fuels, renewable sources and an infusion of funding for research into clean coal and other technologies.

In the wide-ranging interview taped at the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club, Brokaw described the West as a region that is emerging as a new political battleground. The governors emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation and pointed to the Western Governors Association as an organization where Republican and Democratic governors work in concert to achieve policy goals.

Wyoming and Colorado are among other states in the region that are struggling to achieve a balance between wildlife conservation and energy resource development. In order to ensure the future of the West’s wildlife herds, more attention must be paid to wildlife migration corridors, Freudenthal said. Efforts to achieve balance between energy development and conservation in the region would be more effective if the federal government would be a better partner on the issue, he said.

With such a long running and formidable foe however, is an army of those who would withstand it.
This was the face of the crowd during the 2008 Relay for Life.

Those unfamiliar with the event should know that while there are moments of somber reflection of those lost during the 24-hour trek, the real overwhelming feeling is the determination of the human spirit.

The original idea for the Relay for Life came from Dr. Gordy Klatt, a surgeon from Tacoma, Washington. A marathon enthusiast, he decided to help the income of his local American Cancer Society office by circling a track for a 24-hour period. The day-long walk symbolized the fact that cancer never sleeps. In his inaugural walk, Klatt covered 83 miles as friends paid various amounts to walk or run with him, raising $27,000 for his first attempt.

Since that time, the Relay For Life has become a team event where sponsors organize for several weeks or even months to put together a 24-hour celebration of life. From that first event in 1985, the program now involves millions of people in thousands of locations across the globe.

The Star Valley event descended on Star Valley Middle School where not a parking spot could be found for hundreds of yards surrounding the track. Dozens of fifth-wheel trailers and even more tents were set up for the full overnight experience.

“As a committee, we were very pleased with the turnout and the generosity of the people in this valley,” stated Lona Izatt. “We hope we made it an event that people will want to return to next year.”
Izatt also said that the amount of money raised surpassed their goal.

“We know that it takes a village,” she added. “For us to all band together and do what we can to fight cancer and every little bit helps.”

For more information on the national affect of the Relay for Life or for other ways to help battle cancer, visit www.cancer.org.

Be sure to click below for an exclusive photo slide show of the Star Valley Relay for Life. (Photos by Dan Dockstader)

First off, no cheating.  A powerful temptation the internet is (Yoda voice).  Use the comment section to make your guess and I’ll let you know if it’s right.  If we go the weekend without a correct answer then I’ll give the answer on Monday.

We’ll have one of these every Friday so that you can have an excuse to have lower productivity on a day that you should have off anyway.  Rotten five-day work weeks anyway.

And with that, today’s Star Valley sports question is related to wrestling:  The Braves have a long tradition of wrestling proficiency dating back to the 1960’s.  In that time, three Star Valley wrestlers have claimed three individual state titles during their high school career.  Who are they?

Okay Star Valley faithful, let’s get those answers rolling in.  Also, if you have a great sports question, send it along to svidahl@silverstar.com.

“We’re still expecting it to fill,” said Mike Beaus, Snake River Bureau of Reclamation Office Water Operations Manager. Apparently, there is still a lot of snow that is expected to start rapidly melting within the next couple of weeks. The Idaho Bureau of Reclamation expects the reservoir to fill over the next few weeks and is hoping for a near-full season.”

The last time that Palisades was at its full capacity was in June of 2000, so a near-full season this year will have made progress to perhaps a full capacity season next year if plenty of snow falls this coming winter.
If the Bureau of Reclamation is correct in their assumption, it will be a happy day for all of those fishing, camping, and boating recreation lovers that enjoy the scenic area of Palisades Reservoir.

“The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is recognized nationally by wildlife professionals as a leader among state fish and wildlife agencies,” Ferrell said. “I have known the Department to be staffed
by dedicated and talented people who are proud of the State of Wyoming, its natural resources and their agency. It is my intention to continue the exemplary leadership provided by outgoing Director Terry
Cleveland who has been a true giant among leaders of our profession.”

Ferrell was one of three finalists chosen by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. The other two were John Emmerich, Deputy Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Kevin Delaney, former Director of the Division of Sport Fish for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and a current Account Vice President with UBS Financial Services in Fort Collins, Colo.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal said of the three candidates, Ferrell was the logical choice to lead the agency.

“I commend the Game and Fish Commission for sending me a slate of three well-qualified candidates,” he said. “Obviously, it was a difficult decision and it took longer than I had hoped for me to reach a decision. But based on both a review of the materials, the candidates’ resumes and contacts with people who have worked with them, I believe Mr. Ferrell is the logical choice to lead the commission and the agency
forward. His wildlife management experience and understanding of the challenges we face in the future make him a good fit for the agency.”

The Governor acknowledged that there may be concern about an out-of-state candidate leading the agency tasked with managing Wyoming’s treasured wildlife and fisheries.

“I am mindful that the last time I selected someone from out of state it didn’t work out too well,” Freudenthal said. “I am hoping for a better outcome this time.”

Ferrell has spent his entire career with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, an agency that employs more than 600 people and is funded at more than $85 million annually. Beginning in 1975, he has served the
department as a Wildlife Assistant, Wildlife Manager, Habitat Evaluation Specialist, Research Program Supervisor, Wildlife Regional Supervisor, Assistant Director, and Deputy Director. He earned his bachelor’s
degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Arizona.

As deputy director since 1999, Ferrell’s primary responsibilities have included the coordination and implementation of all agency programs including: administration, wildlife management, Information and
Education, Field Operations, and Special Services.

Ferrell has also served as chief financial officer of the department, as chairman of the Game and Fish Director’s executive staff and as leader of the department’s management team. He coordinated regularly
with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the Arizona Governor’s Office, the Arizona State Legislature, and with organized constituent groups. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his leadership and
administrative skills.

Ferrell is current chairman of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Wildlife Resources Policy Committee, is a member of the 2008 White House Conference on Hunting Heritage Technical Committee and a member of the National Sports Shooting Federation’s advisory committee on best practices in hunting and shooting sports recruitment and retention.

Ferrell said he has long been fascinated by Wyoming and the leadership role that the state’s Game and Fish Department plays among other state wildlife agencies across the nation.

“My wife and I have felt a long-time attraction to Wyoming, and had planned to relocate to the state in coming years,” Ferrell said. “This is a very exciting opportunity for us. I look forward to serving the state, its citizens, and the dedicated employees who work for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.”

That goal is when the athletes and students of Star Valley High School attend the beginning of the 2008-09 school year, that a fabulous new facility will be at their disposal.

The current location of the football field is now undergoing the initial phases of what will result in a new artificial field turf that will house the Braves as well as the Braves and Lady Braves soccer teams.  In addition to the field itself, a track & field area like none that SVHS has ever seen will also be constructed, including an eight-lane track and a state-of-the-art timing system.

Be sure to click below for an update on the project with SVHS Activities Director Jamie Holyoak who had his sleeves rolled up and was aiding in the process before taking a break to speak with the Independent.

Also, look for an update on the progress of the project every Tuesday right here at starvalleyindependent.com.

With a program designed to engage the citizens of Wyoming in a more active and healthy lifestyle, the annual Walk Across Wyoming contingent now enters their third year.

The organizers are making a concerted effort to encourage participation from not just individuals but businesses and organizations as well.   Using an interactive program as part of the Casper Star Tribune, the organizers will take you on a virtual trip beginning at Devil’s Tower and stopping at 25 towns across the Cowboy State and finishing in Evanston.
This eight-week program affords participants the chance to walk up to 250 miles or roughly 500,000 steps.  Weekly prizes and a Grand Prize will be awarded based on individual steps.
Those interested in signing up can turn their web browser towards www.trib.com/walk to register and get warmed up for the program which will take place from June 8 through July 31.  Registration is currently taking place.  In order to qualify for prizes, individuals must complete at least 70 percent of the overall distance.

On hearing the news, the Governor released the following statement:

“This is a good first step by the Forest Service, but it is only a first step. We still have the same proposal, and we still have the same unreasonable time line.

This MOU provided undue access for Stanley Energy to dictate both the details and the outcome of the analysis that will determine the fate of this sensitive block of leases in the Wyoming Range.

The dissolution of the agreement appears to be a good first step, but one that was only necessary because the Forest Service chose to compromise the integrity of the leasing SEIS by allowing Stanley an inappropriate seat at the table. The company and the contractor may now be gone, but the process may still be tainted by a sense of impropriety.

We remain concerned that the Forest Service continues to push that this analysis be completed on a very short time line. Development of the Wyoming Range involves serious questions about air quality, watersheds
and wildlife, including such sensitive and threatened species as the cutthroat trout and Canada lynx. It is too critical to address in a hurried fashion.

Instead of rushing this sensitive analysis, the Forest Service should approach the leasing decision in a forest plan revision and wait to see the outcome of Sen. Barrasso’s Wyoming Range legislation which passed
out of the Senate Energy and Resources Committee earlier this month.

The approach of warmer weather brings with it concerns about wildfires, beetle-killed trees and a host of other costly forest management issues. The Forest Service may want to consider its priorities as it moves
forward with this costly analysis.”