Be Careful on Those Highways!

Damage to Trooper Arnell's car, near Evanston, Christmas Day 2015
Damage to Trooper Arnell’s car, near Evanston, Christmas Day 2015

While these two stories happened several days/weeks ago, the new snow and treacherous highway conditions Wyoming is seeing right now are a good reason to bring it out today – please be careful for yourself, and for others out there!

Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Matt Arnell, Evanston
Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Matt Arnell, Evanston

On Christmas Day, 2015 …

A Wyoming State Trooper sustained minor injury after his patrol car was struck on Interstate 80 on Christmas Day. The patrol car was struck around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 25th approximately 31 miles east of Evanston, Wyoming in snow and ice covered road conditions.

Evanston area Trooper Matt Arnell, a 15 year WHP veteran, was assisting a motorist who had slid off into the median at mile post 36 on I-80 westbound when a Hyundai passenger car lost control and crashed into the rear of Trooper Arnell’s patrol car. Trooper Arnell saw the out of control Hyundai coming at him and was able to prepare for the collision while seated inside of his issued 2012 Dodge Charger patrol car.

The collision pushed Trooper Arnell’s patrol car down into the north ditch. The Hyundai stopped in the middle of the westbound lanes of I-80. After the collision, Trooper Arnell was able to check on the driver of the Hyundai, 20 year old Dakota Anglin of Midvale, Utah, and assisted in getting her out of the vehicle while pushing the Hyundai out of westbound interstate traffic.

Trooper Arnell was evaluated at Evanston Regional Hospital for injury and was released that same day. Trooper Arnell has since returned to full duty.

In 2015, eight WHP patrol cars were struck in similar crashes while Troopers were in the performance of their duties. This crash is a reminder to please slow down on two lane highways and to move over on interstate highways when you are approaching stopped emergency vehicles. It is common courtesy, common sense and the law in Wyoming.

Wyoming Highway Patrol car struck while working accident scene east of Cheyenne, January 8. 2016
Wyoming Highway Patrol car struck while working accident scene east of Cheyenne, January 8. 2016

On January 8, 2016 …

Around 3:00 p.m. on January 8, a Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper was investigating a commercial truck rollover crash and assisting other motorists who had slid into the ditch near mile post 375 on Interstate 80 approximately 11 miles east of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

While the Trooper was out of the patrol car assisting a motorist stuck in the snow, a pickup truck traveling too fast for the ice covered interstate lost control and crashed into the WHP vehicle. Thankfully, no injuries were sustained during the crash.

Even with six other law enforcement vehicles, WYDOT trucks and tow trucks on scene conducting traffic control on the scene after the crash, motorists were still traveling through the crash scene at 65 and 70 mph on the ice.

Secondary crashes into primary crash scenes are one of the biggest hazards first responders face in adverse weather conditions. Once again we are reminding everyone to please slow down on two lane highways and to move over on interstate highways while slowing down when you are approaching stopped emergency vehicles. It is common courtesy, common sense and the law in Wyoming.

 

Potters of the Wind Rivers to Help Lander Care & Share Food Bank Fundraiser January 16

 

1914609_923315974413656_7713803934281191825_n

The Potters of the Wind Rivers (POWR) to Have Demonstrations at The Lander Care and Share Food Bank Empty Bowls Fundraiser January 16.

 

Lander, WY – The Lander Care & Share Food Bank has scheduled their Empty Bowls “Soup ‘n More” fundraiser for January 16, 5-7 p.m. at the Lander Senior Center. The Potters of the Wind Rivers (POWR) will have demonstrations at the fundraiser all evening.  See how these beautiful bowls begin on a potter’s wheel!

 

IMG_3603

One of a kind, handmade bowls have been donated to this year’s event by Deb Britt, Shawna Pickinpaugh, Carolyn Orr, Donna Yost, Pam Spencer-Hockett, Cristin Zimmer and Joy Jones, all members of the POWR (Potters of the Wind Rivers) Group.

pottery by Cristin Zimmer
pottery by Cristin Zimmer

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger and was created by The Imagine Render Group. The basic premise is simple: Potters and other craftspeople paint or create soup bowls. Guests are invited to a meal of Soup’n More. In exchange for the ticket price, guests are asked to select and keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The money raised is donated to the Lander Care and Share Food Bank.

It is the collective genius of all the people involved that has made Empty Bowls what it has become. Events have now taken place across the United States and in at least a dozen other countries. Many millions of dollars have been raised and donated to hunger-fighting organizations.

pottery by Carolyn Orr
pottery by Carolyn Orr
pottery by Deborah Britt
pottery by Deborah Britt

Local restaurants and grocery stores participating and donating in this years Soup’n More dinner include: Breadboard, China Garden, Cowfish, Gannett Grill, Gourmet Catering, Hitching Rack, Lander Bake Shop, LVHS Creative Foods Students, Kai’s, Middle Fork, Mr. D’s, Safeway, Siam Cafe, Tony’s Pizza, Wyoming Catholic College.  Music provided by Lucille Whisler and Nancy Ebbert.

Tickets are $35 per person, and can be purchased at the Lander Care and Share Food Bank, 281 Garfield, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 5-6 p.m. Thursday. For more information 307-349-5509.

https://www.facebook.com/landercareandsharefoodbank,  http://www.emptybowls.net

pottery by Donna Yost
pottery by Donna Yost
pottery by Pam Spencer-Hockett
pottery by Pam Spencer-Hockett
pottery by Shawna Pickinpaugh
pottery by Shawna Pickinpaugh