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Articles written by Tonia Copeland


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  • Local teacher earns national certification

    Tonia Copeland|Mar 12, 2015

    Exceptional Needs Specialist, Early Childhood to Young Adult, is quite a title, but local teacher Donna Crandall wears it well. Crandall recently obtained her national certification, as well as the long title, through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. National certification is one of the highest marks of professional accomplishment, according to the board website, www.nbpts.org, and according to Crandall, the stringent process demands a great time commitment but is well worth it. Crandall's certification required 450...

  • Pine Bluffs Elementary School

    Tonia Copeland|Mar 5, 2015

    Despite being in the works for a decade, there has been no bond issue, no rise in property taxes, and still no new elementary school. Residents should not expect a rise in taxes because there will be no bond issue since the state of Wyoming funds new schools, according to Kim Nelson, Laramie County School District #2 Facilities Manager. "We have been trying to get (the project) back into the budget," Nelson said. "Ten, twelve years ago, (the state) purchased land outside of town, because there...

  • LCFD4 receives grant from FCS

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 26, 2015

    Fire District #4 will use a $2,000 grant from Farm Credit Services of America to purchase grain bin rescue equipment. The equipment to be purchased is called the Great Wall of Rescue and the monies were donated through the Working Here Fund. Based in Carpenter Wyo., Fire District #4, a strictly volunteer department, serves more than 270 square miles in Wyoming and has a mutual aid contract with northern Colorado. Though there have not been any recent grain bin incidents, the need for the...

  • Smile, you're on camera

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 19, 2015

    Smile, you're on camera. As students board new buses in the Laramie County School District #2 and even as they wait outside they will be on camera. The safety feature is part of the guidelines set forth by the state of Wyoming. Therefore as the district replaces buses in the current fleet, they will be fitted with interior and exterior cameras in keeping with state specifications. Board member Todd Fornstrom inquired whether the buses in the current fleet will also be retrofitted with external...

  • Sweat, blood, tears

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 19, 2015

    Its an age old tale of rival teams from neighboring towns, and in eastern Wyoming one of those rivalries is between Pine Bluffs and Burns basketball teams. Pine Bluffs held on to win the contest, 53-52 On Friday, February 13, the Pine Bluffs Lady Hornets traveled to Burns to face-off against the Lady Broncs and the resulting game went into overtime. The Lady Hornets ended the first quarter with a lead of 12-7 but the Lady Broncs closed that gap in the second quarter, adding 15 points while...

  • Ragsdale signs Letter of Intent

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 19, 2015

    Pine Bluffs senior Jaden Ragsdale, 18, has signed a letter of intent with Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas. The college, located 40 minutes north of Amarillo, offered Ragsdale a nearly full-ride scholarship and the chance to play college volleyball. “I enjoy basketball but I've really enjoyed volleyball. It just comes naturally to me, I enjoy playing it and I have seen myself playing in college for the last five years,” Ragsdale said “Its hard to pass up a scholarship like that and I like the Texas atmosphere down there.” Ragsdal...

  • Great practice leads to great win for Hornets

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 19, 2015

    The Pine Bluffs Hornets traveled to Burns to shut out the Broncs, 57-22, on Friday, February 13. The game began with a the Hornets taking possession and losing it to the Broncs' Noah Tyler in the first of four steals Tyler racked up throughout the game. "I thought Burns played very well in the first half. They had a good game plan and it took us a bit to get in a rhythm," Pine Bluffs coach Will Gray said. "Defensively we played very well and I was pleased with our effort." The Hornets pulled it...

  • Lady Coyotes get first win of the season

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 19, 2015

    The Lady Coyotes traveled to Briggsdale Thursday for a loss against the Falcons, 77-17, then hit the road again for Weldona Valley where they brought home their first win of the season, 49-43. Coach Megan Malcom said the score was the team’s lowest of the season. Malcom attributed that to one of the team’s guards was out and an injury forced a second, senior Katie Klinginsmith, to sit out following the second quarter. With just five players left, one guard and four posts, the team had a difficult time getting up the court and a very difficult m...

  • Cyclones serve Broncs second weekend loss

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 19, 2015

    Following a loss to Pine Bluffs the Burns Broncs traveled to Yoder for a match up against the Southeast Cyclones and came home with a 67-34 loss. Despite a few early turnovers, missed shots and failed free throws attempts, the Broncs were able to end the first quarter nearly tied with the Cyclones up 11-10. “We competed and played well in the first 12 minutes against Southeast,” coach Sean Patterson said. “After that we failed to take care of the ball.” Though the Broncs were grabbing the rebounds in the second quarter they couldn't seem to...

  • Coyotes knock down two wins

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 19, 2015

    The Pawnee Coyotes shut out Briggsdale 72-33 on Thursday, February 12, despite missing a key player before a harder-fought second win against Weldon Valley, 53-42. Drew Ellis was out with a concussion Thursday, but coach Tim Brunelle said other players stepped up in his place. Bryce Schnug led the night with 26 points, five rebounds and four assists followed by Kip Shoemaker with 14 points, four rebounds and 2 assists. “Bryce was 11-12 from the field tonight, and the guys did a great job of getting the ball to him,” Brunelle said. “It was just...

  • Nashville bound?

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 19, 2015

    FFA has taught 18 year-old Rowan Fichtner a lot about public speaking and doing one's best. The leadership program has also boosted his confidence and tested it. Fichtner, who has been a member of FFA since seventh grade, when he began attending school in Burns, competed in the second annual National FFA Talent Competition. The competition was held during the 2014 National FFA Convention and Expo from Oct. 20 through Nov. 1 in Louisville, Kent. Fichtner, along with nearly 150 other competitors,...

  • Free Fridays for students

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 12, 2015

    The Laramie County School District #2 Board reviewed a four-day calendar for students at their regular board meeting, Monday, February 9 at the Burns High School. The alternative calendar has been considered previously by the board. “We have kicked this idea around for about the last six years,” board member Tom Morgan said. The board chairman, Taft Love opened the meeting to comments prior to any discussion on the matter, after being advised that public comments could not be heard throughout the remainder of the meeting. “At this time we us...

  • Winning streak continues

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 12, 2015

    The top-rated Pine Bluffs Hornets bested the Southeast Cyclones on Friday 64-47 in another fast-paced and physical match up. With a total of 47 personal fouls, the opponents gave the Hornets plenty of free throw opportunities and the home team made good on 50 percent of those attempted free throws. "The kids did a good job of attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line," coach Will Gray said. " We wish we would have shot a better percentage from the line, but we will continue to work...

  • Lady Hornets fall to No. 1 Southeast, defeat Saratoga

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 12, 2015

    The Lady Hornets fell to the top-seated Southeast Cyclones 43-32 on Friday despite a hard fought game in the Hornet's Nest. The home team struggled to gain eight points in the first quarter against the Lady Cyclones who racked up 16 of their own. The Lady Hornets fell further behind in the second quarter, gaining just three points while the Cyclones lead grew to 27-11 by the end of the first half. Pine Bluffs' struggle continued in the third quarter with five points added to the board while the...

  • Burns Falls Twice

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 12, 2015

    After a close game the Burns Broncs fell to the Saratoga Panthers on Friday 51-49 at Saratoga. The Panthers led the Broncs just 19-16 at the end of the first quarter but by the end of the first half the Broncs had closed the gap and taken the lead 32-26. The back and forth play continued after halftime with Saratoga taking the lead 40-38 and a fourth quarter gained each team 11 points. Burns was led by Cole Jackson with 14 points, eight rebounds two assists, two steals and two turnovers. Noah Taylor followed Jackson with 13 points of his own...

  • Hornets defeat Panthers

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 12, 2015

    Following a home town win on Friday, the Pine Bluffs Hornets hosted the Saratoga Panthers for another fast-paced match up and another win, 71-54. Saratoga's boys were able to block several shots throughout the game, forcing the Hornets to work hard in the first half to establish a lead of 41-29. "Offensively we played well, but we had too many turnovers," coach Will Gray said. "The kids were playing fast and seeing the right play, now we need to execute better." While turnovers were again high,...

  • Mechanical failure blamed for blaze

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 5, 2015

    A trailer ablaze in the median stopped traffic along Interstate 80 and diverted traffic for five hours. According to Sgt. Wagner of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, a call was received at 2:58 p.m. February 2 of a tractor trailer on fire at mile marker 399 on I-80. The department responded to the call to find the driver of the unit, Wojtek Jachym, 29, was able to separate the tractor from the trailer carrying aircraft grade aluminum. Traffic along the interstate was diverted in both directions at 4 p.m., Wagner said, due to fire and inhalation hazar...

  • Stung in the Hornet's Nest

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 5, 2015

    Despite missing senior Jaden Ragsdale on Friday due to illness, the Lady Hornets dominated the Guernsey/Sunrise Lady Vikings in a home match-up, leading 16-3 in the first quarter. "The girls did a great job stepping in," coach Lindsey Forbes said. "Melissa Fornstrom played really well in Jaden's absence." The Lady Hornets gained momentum in the second quarter adding another 26 points to the board while holding their opponents to two. The second half was more of the same for the Lady Hornets...

  • Top-rated Hornets sting twice at home

    Tonia Copeland|Feb 5, 2015

    The Pine Bluffs varsity boys bested the Guernsey/Sunrise Vikings on Friday 62-29 and followed that win with a second, closer win against Lingle-Ft. Laramie 50-36. On Friday both teams battled hard throughout the night in a physical match-up that netted a total of 30 personal fouls, with the visiting team accruing 17. Ending first quarter with 14 points to their opponents five, the Hornet's gained momentum to finish the first half leading the Vikings 34-14. The Hornets continued scoring well above their guests with a gain of 17 in the third...