You can listen to our newscast by clicking here: NEWS 012810

All Wyoming Inmates Are Returned to State

As of Tuesday, January 26. All Wyoming inmates who have been housed out-of-state due to lack of room in Wyoming prisons have been returned to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. Wyoming inmates have been housed in a number of states including Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Colorado.

On Wednesday, January 20, 126 inmates arrived from Virginia by plane at the Cheyenne Airport and on Thursday, January 21, another 127 inmates arrived from Virginia by plane at the Casper Airport. Over the next few days the final 16 inmates arrived by vans from Virginia.  Inmates were then delivered to the Wyoming State Penitentiary, the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution and the other facilities. 

People in Torrington were taken by surprise on Wednesday when the convoy arrived in town, numerous vehicles with lights flashing, including two large buses from the Colorado Department of Corrections, the WDOC bus, and a number of vans and other accompanying vehicles came rolling into town and literally stopped traffic.

Deputy Administrator Dawn Sides thanked the numerous entities involved in the entire process that made sure safety was a primary consideration. 

Those involved with the transport process were Laramie County, Goshen County, Carbon County and Natrona County sheriffs’ offices;

Cheyenne Police Department and SWAT; Casper, Mills, Rawlins and Torrington police departments; Wyoming Department of Homeland Security; Justice Prison & Alien Transportation System /U.S. Marshals Service; Wyoming National Guard; Wyoming Highway Patrol; Cheyenne Airport Fixed Base Operator; Casper Airport Public Safety Officer; Laramie County and Natrona County detention centers; Burlington Northern Railroad; Virginia Department of Corrections; and Colorado Department of Corrections.

Thanks to all the state agencies for their help. Everything went smoothly, which is a credit to all the correctional professionals involved.

Kevin Burkey, Respiratory Therapist at Banner Health Torrington was chosen by the leaders of Banner Health Torrington as Employee of the Quarter in December 2009 and Kevin is known for being exceptionally kind with his patients and for always going the extra mile for patients and coworkers alike. It was Kevin’s idea to start the “Adopt a Patient” program and have employees donate items to stuff in stockings for patients on Christmas morning. He also designed a card and wrote a poem to put in each stocking. Kevin is an artist and recently donated a piece of his original artwork to the nursing services Christmas Party. Congratulations to Kevin Burkey.

Also going on this week:

Today is the Goshen County Workforce Alliance Brown Bag Meeting at EWC Community Training Center at noon Lunch will be provided. Topic is Career Readiness Certification. Meetings are open to the public.

Tonight is the Western Plains Historic Preservation Association program  at 7pm at the Western History Center in Lingle.  Dale Colerich will demonstrate the use of antique sewing machines.

Also tonight – Annual Chili and Soup Supper 5 – 7pm in LaGrange – at the War Memorial Community Building. Event includes silent auction and pie auction.  – Free will donations accepted.

Friday January 29^th – Benefit Bake Sale 8am at Pinnacle Bank in Torrington

January 29 thru 31^st – WSCHA Cutting at Goshen County Fairgrounds Pavilion. Classes begin at 4pm on Friday – Saturday and Sunday 8am to 3pm. Free to spectators.

Saturday January 30^th Sagebrush and Roses Dinner and Dance at the Goshen County Fairgrounds Rendezvous Center – Black Tie and blue jeans event is a fundraiser for agriculture program at Eastern Wyoming College. This will include Western art exhibits. 

Cocktails begin at 6pm – Dinner at 7 with dancing to follow.  Tickets are available at Pinnacle Bank, Platte Valley Band, Adorn and EWC office of Development.  Tickets are $60 each.