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TORRINGTON, Wyo. (RELEASE) August 7, 2019--The Goshen Irrigation District, along with the Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation District releases its weekly update for the emergency tunnel collapse and canal repair project to keep landowners and public aware of its ongoing repair efforts which began on July 27, 2019. The project is progressing and moving ahead as expected with still many unknowns of the inner tunnel damage and its stability. 

WHEATLAND, Wyo. (RELEASE) August 5, 2019--On July 30, 2019, a fatal crash occurred around milepost 73 on Interstate 25 south of Wheatland, Wyoming.  Around 7:49 a.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the area for a one-vehicle rollover.
 
A 2003 Buick Century was traveling northbound on Interstate 25 when the vehicle drifted into the median and in between the north and south bridge decks of Interstate 25 at the Highway 34 interchange.  The Buick overturned and came to a rest on Highway 34.      

GOSHEN COUNTY, Wyo. (RELEASE) August 1, 2019--

By Jessica Groskopf, Regional Agricultural Economist & Cory Walters, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
 

As repairs continue on the tunnel that collapsed on the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie Canal, unanswered questions remain about whether crop insurance will cover crop losses stemming from the loss of irrigation water.
     

Crop Insurance provides protection against “unavoidable, naturally occurring events.”  Due to the complexity of the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie situation, it is unknown if crop insurance will cover crop loss.
  

TORRINGTON, Wyo. July 24, 2019--Hundreds of people filled the Eastern Wyoming College auditorium for a public meeting that was held at 2 pm on Wednesday, concerning the collapse of the Ft. Laramie tunnel and canal. Even though the auditorium was filled with mixed emotions including fear and sadness, people had positive demeanors. Everyone remains optimistic.  A man led a prayer for farmers, families, workers, and representatives.  

A company out of Houston has been hired and is in the process of building pipe for the replacement of the collapsed tunnel. GID Commissioners Secretary/Treasurer, Shawn Booth, explained that once the pipe is completed, they will haul it to Goshen County to begin the installation.  Members of the GID Board are trying to be optimistic in hoping that there is a time table of the end of August for irrigators to see a water supply again.

GOSHEN COUNTY, Wyo. July 24, 2019--Wally Wolski resigned as Goshen County Commissioner Chairman. As a result, the Goshen County Republican Party must now hold a special meeting to determine 3 qualified candidates to replace him. State Statutes require the political party of the person who vacated the elected position to find 3 qualified candidates.  The party will hold a special meeting on Sunday, August 4th at 6:30 PM to interview prospective candidates.  Those interested should submit a letter of interest to gcrparty@gmail.com and provide any additional information they would like the County Central Committee to know about them as well vial email.  The deadline to submit a letter of interest is Friday, August 2nd at 5 PM.  Applicants must be Goshen County residents and must have been a registered Republican at the time of the vacancy, which was Monday, July 22nd.  All applicants will be verified through the County Clerk’s office.  For more information go to goshen.gop or call Corey Steinmetz at 534-5870.

GOSHEN COUNTY, Wyo. July 23, 2019—On Friday, Gov. Mark Gordon visited Goshen County where the tunnel damage occurred. On Monday, he officially declared a state of emergency for Goshen County and signed an executive order to more easily aid the county. He will deploy state resources to Goshen County as needed. The Governor’s office is working with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and the State Engineer’s Office. 

Representatives from the Governor’s office and state will be in attendance during a public meeting Wednesday, at 2 p.m. in the EWC Auditorium. The meeting is intended for landowners and the public. 

TORRINGTON, Wyo. July 23, 2019--Verizon-Cellular Plus will give away free backpacks filled with school supplies from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 27th. The Verizon-Cellular Plus Backpack to School program is one that involves employees and customers of Verizon-Cellular Plus, as well as their vendor partners. The company initiated an employee program to donate backpacks and its stores are also accepting donations from customers and guests. If you wish to donate before Saturday, you can contact Store Manager, Dan Deines at 307-532-1072.

July 22, 2019 GOSHEN COUNTY, Wyo.--

The Chairman of the Goshen County Commissioners declared a State of Emergency on behalf  of Goshen County, and will execute for and on behalf of Goshen County Commission the expenditure of emergency funds from all available sources, the invoking of mutual aid agreements, and the requesting of assistance from the State of Wyoming.

July 16, 2019 GOSHEN COUNTY, Wyo.--During the early morning hours of July 17, an apparent collapse in a tunnel on the Ft. Laramie Canal, about one and a half miles south of Fort Laramie, caused water to back up and breach the canal bank upstream of the tunnel. Goshen Irrigation District personnel responded immeditely to water level alarms by investigating the cause. They then shut off the water supply at Whalen Dam and requested the Bureau of Reclamation reduce the flows out of Guernsey Reservoir.