Green River Star -
February 3, 2021
Wyoming’s public schools have long been a subject of derision for many Republican state lawmakers who claim they underperform. If such scrutiny leads to the constant improvement of our K-12 system, then I’m all for it.
But that’s not the solution the Legislature is considering. Instead, a committee charged with determining how much the state spends on education wants to cut funding by an estimated $250 million over the next three years.
That’s like complaining of a headache and then “solving” the problem by cutting off your head. If the topic wasn’t so serious, their response.
Jackson Holeâs reported active cases of COVID-19 fell below 200 this week for the first time in three weeks.
But Teton County still remains in the âcritical riskâ category, with higher per capita infection rates compared to many of its ski town peers.
According to the New York Times coronavirus data tracking project on Wednesday, Teton County was seeing an average of 96 cases per 100,000 residents compared to 65, 41 and 40 per 100,000 for Colorado counties Routt (Steamboat Springs), Eagle (Vail) and Pitkin (Aspen), respectively. Gallatin County, Montana, home to Big Sky Resort, had 29 per 100,000. Summit County (Park City), Utah, reported 55 cases per 100,000.
Teton County also continues to lead the state in highest active infections with 176 lab confirmed and 4 probable cases Wednesday, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. Teton County has reported 340 new cases in the past two weeks. The surge appears to have peaked at 313 active cases on Jan. 18, accord
Despite the pandemic throwing schools for a loop at the end of last year, Wyoming’s high schoolers still found their way through high school’s final hoops.
By the time I woke up on Sept. 11, 2001, one tower had fallen. As I was leaving for school, the second one did.
I was 13, an eighth grader in Portland, Oregon. In social studies class our teacher, Ms. James, rolled in a TV on a metal cart. A pall was cast over the school; we followed no lessons that day. We watched news coverage, and Ms. James led discussions of what was happening, what it meant for our country, how we felt about it.
Teachers begin most every school day with lesson plans, but sometimes events change the course of the classroom â and the course of history.
Teton Valley leader dies
Joselin Matkins, executive director of Teton Regional Land Trust and a highly involved and beloved Teton Valley community member, died Friday. The Teton County, Idaho, coronerâs office ruled her death a suicide.
Matkins, 42, was an East Idaho native who left a lasting impact on conservation in the region, first leading the Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust in Pocatello, then moving to Teton Valley in 2013 to work for and then direct the Teton Regional Land Trust.
Matkins departed her Tetonia home for a bike ride Friday morning. Her partner became concerned for her welfare and called the sheriffâs office about an hour and a half later, triggering a search that lasted until evening, when she was found deceased.