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.

Drainage pipes and  soil shaping that will eventually help the track drain were constructed, as was the posts for the fencing which will surround the field and the track.

In addition to the work on the main portion of the field, grading work has also taken place in the throwing area as well as a new layer of protection on the driving area and the parking lot surrounding SVHS and the athletics area.

Be sure to click below

The aircraft and crews began releasing fire retardant on June 28 to help contain multiple fires throughout California. Flying out of the McClellan Airport in Sacramento, Calif., the crews opened with two sorties, or two different flights to drop the retardant.

The Wyoming Air National Guard is one of four National Guard and Reserve units in the country trained to operate the MAFFS units. Each MAFFS unit can drop 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in 8 - 10 seconds.

“There’s a lot more fire than there was last year,” Lt. Col. Wylie Walno, 153rd Operations Group MAFFS coordinator, said. “The flights are real hazy. Visibility during the past two days has been down to three miles or less.”

Walno said Wyoming crews flew four sorties on June 29, over the course of six hours, to the Piute Fire, 17 miles northeast of Caliente, Calif. “I can’t tell you this is any worse or any better than any other year,” he said.

The National Interagency Fire Center activates the National Guard and Reserve MAFFS units when other fire fighting resources are exhausted. Besides Wyoming, MAFFS equipped C-130s from the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard; and the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs, Colo., are flying in California.

The Wyoming Air National Guard has performed its MAFFS mission for more than 30 years. This is the unit’s first MAFFS activation since it was called to battle California wildfires in October 2007.

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)

The HMX guard the hangers, assemble the helicopters, and protect the President while he is traveling. Charlie was a part of the MP Canine Program and was a dog handler for four years; meaning he took a dog around the areas of helicopters and hangers to inspect for bombs.
He had the chance to travel to many places of the world with the President. The majority of the places that Charlie went, they had no problems.  Charlie recently finished his work with the HMX and was selected to meet with President Bush. Charlie asked his mother, Angie, to accompany him.

There were only four individuals from the HMX that were selected to meet with the President this year.

“What an honor. The President is a very humble and gracious man,” said Angie. Before Angie and Charlie could meet with the President, they were told what to do, what not to do, and were informed of rules and procedures of the White House. Angie recalls that they walked through the rose garden and that their names were announced to the President when they walked in the Oval Office. Then they got their picture taken with the President and were soon ushered out.
“It’s quite an honor to be selected. It’s not something that comes easy,” said Angie.  Charlie graduated from Star Valley High School in 2000 and went on to become a marine in 2003. He will soon be stationed at Camp Pendleton in California and will be going into the first marine expeditionary forces in the Combat Tracker dog program.
“He loves it. He absolutely loves it. It’s not like a job for him, he likes going everyday…he’ll probably make a career out of it,” Angie said.

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.

Teton Interagency Dispatch received a report of the accident from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office shortly after it occurred. Approximately 10 park rangers and emergency medical personnel along with Teton County Fire/EMS personnel immediately responded to the scene, and several Teton Interagency fire staff helped with traffic control at various intersections near the accident site. In addition to the park response, several Teton County sheriffs and a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer assisted with traffic control and an accident reconstruction investigation. Other mutual aid assistance included a Teton County ambulance, and the Teton County rescue vehicle with an extrication team, responding from Jackson, Wyoming.

Details on the cause of the accident will become available after the investigation is completed. The two deceased persons were visitors from Belgium. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next
of kin.

Due to the serious nature of the accident and the position of the semi truck and its trailer, Highway 26/89/191 was closed from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Traffic was rerouted through detours along the Antelope Flats Road and the Moose-Wilson Road.

Also, drainage pipe construction is underway as is the concrete pad for the Pole Vault runway.

The naming process for the facility is underway and you can submit your name for the new addition by sending it to the Independent at P.O. Box 129, Afton WY, 83110 or by dropping by the Independent offices at 360 S. Washington St. in Afton.

The names will be placed in the poll section of this website from July 1 through July 16 and the top vote getter will be submitted to the school board of LCSD #2 for approval at their meeting on July 17.