Interchange - July 2012

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July 2012, Vol. 40, Issue 7 Interchange a WYDOT publication Long-awaited Casper area project begins

description

July issue of Interchange. The news magazine of the Wyoming Department of Transportation

Transcript of Interchange - July 2012

Page 1: Interchange - July 2012

July 2012, Vol. 40, Issue 7Interchange

a WYDOT publication

Long-awaited Casper area project begins

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InterchangeInterchange is published for

employees of the Wyoming Depart-ment of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents.

Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to: Carlie Van Winkle, Interchange editor, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Chey-enne, WY, 82009-3340. The Public Affairs Office may also be contacted by phoning (307) 777-4165, faxing (307) 777-4289, or sending e-mail to [email protected]

StaffWYDOT Director:

John F. Cox

Public Affairs Manager:Doug McGee

Editor/Art Director:Carlie Van Winkle

Writers: Cody Beers District 5Bruce Burrows Public AffairsRoss Doman District 1Jeff Goetz District 2Stephanie Harsha District 3Ronda Holwell District 4Dave Kingham Public AffairsBarbara Thomasee Office ServicesSgt. Stephen Townsend PatrolCarlie Van Winkle Public Affairs

Photography: Rick Carpenter Public Affairs

Geology helps out at Register Cliff

Del [McOmie],Just wanted to make sure you know

the status of the above project and to be sure to say thanks. Since our last call on Register Cliff your staff has been out-standing and have provided this agency with some much-needed expertise. The same day I called you about this Mark Falk called and shortly thereafter we met Mark and Dave Vanderveen at the Cliff to inspect. Within the following week Dave and a scaling crew were back out at the site and Dave has since provided a very comprehensive report along with a listing of potential contractors.

This agency obviously does not have the expertise to do this work and it has been wonderful to be able ask assistance of WYDOT to help in a time of need. We feel this project is of an emergency nature and we’re doing all we can so nobody gets hurt. Having Mark and Dave basically drop all they were doing and provide us with the report they did was fantastic, likely added more work and stress to their already busy schedule but in the long run they have provided a direction for us to follow that could save lives in the future if we hadn’t responded.

It seems like we have had a number of requests from WYDOT lately, whether its Register Cliff, flooding issues at Medicine Lodge or Ft. Bridger, vehicle registration information or just the approving of SPR monies. You and your staff have been more than helpful and very generous of your time for this agency. I would like to say its a great partnership but I’m not sure if we have ever returned the favor to you all. But, please know that all your assis-tance is greatly appreciated and someday maybe we’ll be in a position to help you.

Please pass on our sincere appreciation to Mark, Dave and all those who helped with the Register Cliff project.

Thanks again. Joe Bonds, Field Support Chief, Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails

Chugwater rest stop a safe haven

My car broke down at the Chugwater rest stop this afternoon. I had left Denver on a three-day drive with two dogs to visit my 97-year old uncle in Idaho. As I waited for the tow truck, Myron and Belinda Witt approached me, introduced themselves, and petted my dogs. They immediately put me at ease, as I am in my 60s and traveling alone, explaining they were in charge of the facility and offered an enclosed shelter for us to wait in. They helped me charge my cell phone and Belinda waited with me, even offering me a beverage until the tow truck appeared over two hours later. I had stopped there on a recommendation and found it to be very clean and I felt safe.

Julia Butenas

The power of givingI would like to thank each and every

one of you who so graciously donated sick time so that I could recover from my knee surgery. It made my recovery so much less stressful and helped so that I didn’t have to rush back [to work] and had ap-propriate time to heal. Please know that I am eternally grateful to all of you. It was very heartwarming to know that I had so many people who cared about me. You are all WONDERFUL!

Thank you!Donna Olivares-Braisted

Best kept rest stopThe Dwyer rest area near Wheatland is

one of the best kept rest areas in Wyo-ming. Please recognize the caretaker for his extreme professionalism.

Delbert Blocker

TMC signs a blessingI just wanted to thank those people

responsible for the building and main-taining the highway traffic and weather electronic signing systems on I-80. My

Letters

Continued on page 9

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Also in this issue

Letters ....................................2

District briefs ........................4

HR Happenings ...................8

WYDOT by the Numbers .....8

Extra Mile Awards ...............9

Training at a Glance............9

Alive at 25 Graduation ....13

District news ......................14

In the Community ............16

WYDOT Outdoors .............17

Passings ...............................18

WTDEA .................................18

Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/wydot.pao, or click on the link found on the employee’s internal Web site home page.

Contents

6 Heroism Honored Trooper Kirkman given prestigious award

7 Little Loaners Highway Safety’s child car seat loaner program

10 Casper’s West Belt Loop Long awaited area project begins

12 Recording. History. Last in the series from Office Services

On the cover:Dirt moving machines kicking into high gear at the

start of Casper’s West Belt Loop project.Photo: Rick Carpenter/WYDOT

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District briefsNew vehicle criteria for Headquarters and the Districts

Cheyenne – In order to meet the vehi-cle needs for all pro-grams and districts, the Equipment Office took a look at the vehicle crite-ria to find where WYDOT can reduce purchase costs. Limited monies are available for vehicle purchases each year and unfortunately, some requests are not met. If there is a reduction in the cost of our vehicles, more vehicles can be pur-chased with no increase in monies. This will also help with the overall budget cuts that are coming without sacrificing the needs of the programs.

Purchases over the last few years have been analyzed and certain criteria for Headquarters programs have been noted. A similar criteria list has been developed for the five districts as well.

The new criteria will be effective with FY2013 and for vehicles that are being replaced.

Crashes, delays drop dur-ing first year of Vandehei roundabouts

Cheyenne – The number of crashes and the average wait times for vehicles dropped during the first year the round-abouts at the Van-dehei Interchange on I-25 in Cheyenne were open to traffic.

The roundabouts opened on May 25, 2011, 25 days ahead of schedule. Reiman Corp. of Cheyenne completed the project for $6.1 million.

In the year since the roundabouts opened there have been three crashes re-

ported at the interchange. None of those crashes resulted in injuries.

During the year prior to beginning the construction that widened the Vandehei bridge and replaced the intersections on each side with roundabouts, there were 11 crashes and four people injured. When compared to the average number of crashes annually at the Interchange during the five years prior to construc-tion, crashes dropped 54.5 percent during the first year the roundabouts were in operation.

Traffic engineers consider three years of crash data the minimum needed to draw long-term conclusions about the performance of an intersection, but the data from the roundabouts’ first year of operation are considered a good start to the ongoing assessment.

Studies completed before the project was designed indicated under projected traffic volumes the existing intersections with stop signs would result in average side-street delays of 37 to 45 seconds per vehicle during peak traffic. If traffic sig-nals were installed, the projected average delay per vehicle during peak volumes was 32 seconds.

“We had predicted an average delay of somewhere in the six to eight seconds per vehicle range for roundabouts, and we’re doing better than that,” said Paul Jones, WYDOT’s assistant state traffic engineer. “So these things are operating quite well and quite safely. We’re not getting long queues of vehicles waiting to enter, and the queues dissipate quickly.”

However, improvements can still be made, Jones said. During heavy snow-storms, the lack of storage space for snow creates difficulties in clearing the round-abouts using conventional snow-removal equipment. Also, some drivers still are not clear on the rules for driving through the roundabouts.

Drivers approaching a roundabout need to yield to any pedestrians at the crosswalk and then look to the left and yield to traffic already on the roundabout. If there is no traffic approaching from the left, drivers do not have to stop before entering the roundabout.

Vehicles entering the roundabouts from the bridge do not have the right of way. They must yield to traffic already on

the roundabout, just like vehicles entering from the exit ramps or service roads.

Once on the roundabout, drivers should proceed to their exit and use their right-turn signal to let other drivers know they’ll be leaving the roundabout at the next street.

WYDOT has produced a roundabout animation to show how traffic should flow on the roundabouts.

There are currently four roundabouts on Wyoming’s highway system, and a fifth is scheduled for completion later this year at Hoback Junction.

WYDOT sets arches, traffic will see delays

Pinedale – WYDOT Pinedale con-struction crews set the overpass arches the week of June 11 as part of their wildlife connectivity project.

Traffic was delayed on US route 191 at milepost 105, near Cora Junction, due to overpass construction.

WYDOT would like to remind drivers to slow down in work zones, be alert and cautious of roadside workers.

The Trapper’s Point Wildlife Con-nectivity Project was awarded to Rei-man Corp. and consists of 29.7 miles of eight-foot deer fence, six 70-foot bridges and two 150-foot wide animal overpasses. One overpass is located close to Trappers Point, near the junction with WYO 352

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This overpass near Daniel Junction was set last year and is one of two overpasses that will be part of the project.

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(Cora Road). The other overpass is near-ing completion and is located about two miles north of Daniel Junction at what’s referred to locally as Boroff Hill.

It is estimated that each spring and fall approximately 2000 pronghorn and 3500 mule deer pass through the area and would use the overpasses and underpass-es. The project has received awards and recognition from the Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives (EHEI) and the Exemplary Ecosystem Initiatives (EEI).

The Trappers Point area is well-documented as a major wildlife migra-tion route, but increasing traffic on US 189/191, along with ongoing development in the region, have served to disrupt migration. The project will reverse this trend and help restore diversity, health, and genetic vitality to the various big game species.

US 30 will see lane closures during construction

WYDOT will be working on US 30 be-tween Cokeville and the Idaho State Line beginning in July. Work will include mill-ing and concrete paving. The project was awarded to Concrete Works of Colorado for $7 million.

During construction, US 30 will be reduced to one lane, with the assistance of traffic signals and pilot cars. Crews will work on 2.5-mile sections at a time. Portable traffic lights will be in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Motor-ists and local residents are encouraged to plan accordingly for the travel delays and disruptions.

The work will begin the first part of July and Concrete Works of Colorado will continue with similar traffic control areas through August and September.

“Every effort will be made by WYDOT and Concrete Works of Colorado to mini-mize delays for the traveling public while ensuring safe and speedy completion of the project,” Resident Engineer Jennifer Hoffman said.

Reduced speeds on WYO 390

Teton Village – WYDOT will be reducing the speed limit during nighttime hours on Wyoming’s Highway 390 from milepost 0.0 to milepost 4.0 in hopes that it will reduce the number of wildlife col-lisions.

Teton County has reported several col-lisions with moose this year on WYO 390 and wildlife-vehicle collisions continue to pose a serious problem in the area with regard to human safety, wildlife mortality, habitat connectivity, and financial costs.

The current speed limit on WYO 390 in this section is 45 mph. The new night-time speed will be 35 mph.

New static signs will be installed this week to inform motorists of the reduced nighttime speed limit. A contract is currently be-ing advertised to install flashing bea-cons on the signs in order to help define the exact times that the new speed limit will be enforced.

The flash-ing beacons will be ac-companied by a second sign that adds “When Flashing.” Currently, the hours of enforcement will be defined as the period of day 30 minutes after official daily sunset to 30 minutes before official daily sunrise.

The flashing beacon installation is expected to begin in August and will be completed by October 31. WYDOT urges motorists to take note of the new night-time speed and be aware that wildlife could be on the road.

A static speed limit sign like those being installed along WYO 390.

Driving Tips To AvoiD

Collisions WiTh

WilDlife• Slow Down.

• Pay attention to the road.

• Scan the sides of the roads for wildlife.

• Be alert to areas of high vegetation and steep banks.

• Wildlife tends to cross roads more often at dawn and dusk and at night.

• If you see one elk, deer or moose, you are likely to see more.

• If you see an animal on the road expect the unexpected. They do not instinctively know how to react to vehicles. Give the animal time and room to move off the road. Do not try to out-run it.

• Wildlife warning signs are there for a reason. Take note.

• Extend your following distance through wildlife areas. Do not follow the car in front of you too closely.

• Drive responsibly and defensively.

District Briefs cont. on page 9

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Trooper William Kirkman is the most recent recipient of the G. Clyde Larson Award for saving two young lives while on duty.

On the evening of April 25, first re-sponders were called to the scene of an all terrain vehicle (ATV) crash. WHP doesn’t usually respond to such accidents, but more information started coming in over the radio, which spurred Trooper William Kirkman into action. The incident oc-curred on the Ratter Q Ranch, just off of WYO 487, southwest of Casper. The ATV had crashed into Bates Creek, flipped over, and two children, a 3-year-old and a 10-year-old, were pinned beneath the machine in frigid, snow-melt water. The children’s mother and older brother had unsuccessfully attempted to lift the ATV off the younger children. At the time of the radio dispatch, Trooper Kirkman was patrolling southwest of Casper on WYO 220, and being nearby, he responded quickly.

Kirkman was the first of emergency personnel to arrive at the incident. When Trooper Kirkman arrived, he could hear the screams of the trapped children and could see the ATV upside down in the stream, but was unable to see the chil-dren. Kirkman met briefly with the chil-dren’s mother who was wet and covered in mud. The woman and her son were un-

able to move the heavy machine and only found themselves sinking deeper into the soft mud and nearly waist deep water.

The ATV had fallen off an approxi-mately five-foot drop where the stream

had washed out the road the children were traveling on. The machine had come to a rest against a culvert with just the tires and some of the undercarriage vis-ible above the water line.

The children were submerged beneath the ATV with the exception of their faces which were near the footrest area of the machine. With their legs and bodies pinned under the heavy ATV, the chil-dren had positioned their heads so their eyes, nose and mouth remained mostly above the water.

Trooper Kirkman jumped into the frigid water without hesitation, as the children struggled to keep their faces above water. Kirkman later recounted that the children must have been com-pletely submerged at some point as both children’s entire faces and heads were drenched. Kirkman also believed the 10-year-old was holding the face and head of the 3-year-old above the water.

Trooper Kirkman struggled as he waded through the water and sank into mud that went over the top of his duty boots while making his way to the chil-dren. Once he reached the ATV, Kirkman and the children’s mother once again at-tempted to lift it, but were unable, as they continued to struggle in the mud. Trooper Kirkman repositioned himself and, with the mother’s help, was finally able to

partially lift the ATV. With the machine resting against his body, Kirkman pulled the 3-year-old from underneath the machine, and handed the child to her mother. Kirkman then freed the 10-year-old, released the ATV and carried the older child from the freez-ing cold water. Later, when asked how cold the water was, Trooper Kirkman responded, “It was snow the day before!”

“It just happened that I was the closest guy there. There were a lot of really good people headed there, I was just first

and the closest,” says Kirkman. Trooper Jonathan Russell, arrived on scene after the children had been extricated and supplied blankets to the hypothermic children.

First aid care for the children was turned over to first responders from Natrona County Fire District, Wyoming Medical Center and Life Flight. The 3-year-old was transported by Life Flight to Wyoming Medical Center in Casper where it was determined the child had a broken leg. The 10-year-old was trans-ported to Wyoming Medical Center where she was treated for hypothermia. Kirkman states, “It could have been a whole lot worse.”

The children were trapped beneath the ATV for an estimated 30 minutes and likely could not have survived much longer. The heroic efforts, made without hesitation by Trooper Kirkman, prevented a tragic outcome and saved the lives of two young children.

“I had almost not gone to work that night due to the death of a close friend, but then decided I would,” Kirkman explained. That family is thankful that he came to work that day, too.

Heroism Honored

Director John Cox awarded the G. Clyde Larson Award to Trooper William Kirkman at the June Transportation Com-mission Luncheon.

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G. CLYDE LARSON AWARD

In 1969, the Wyoming High-way Commission established an award program in honor of the late G. Clyde Larson. Mr. Larson was appointed to a six-year commis-sion term in 1965 by Gov. Clifford Hansen. Larson died in July 1968, and his son, Grant, was appointed to fill the unexpired term.

The award program was created to honor Larson, and its purpose was to recognize acts of heroism by Highway Department employees. The award acknowledges an employ-ee who has saved a life or prevented great property damage, thus saving personal and governmental expense.

To be eligible, an employee must be distinguished through action above and beyond the call of duty, including rendering first aid to save a life; saving a life through immedi-ate action without regard for per-sonal safety or subsequent results; preventing further bodily harm to others through individual action, if peril was imminent, alleviating danger through immediate preven-tive action at personal risk.

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Child safety car seats save little lives. Most of us have either seen them, have had child car seats in our vehicles or currently drive around with these seats in our cars occupied with little people. Statistically, car crashes are the number one killer of children ages 1 to 12 in the United States. The best way to protect the children in your life is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way.

WYDOT’s Highway Safety Program supports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) stance on child car seat safety and has imple-mented a child safety seat loaner program at Headquarters in Cheyenne.

The yet unnamed WYDOT program in District 1 offers child car seats to current WYDOT employees (grandparents, or aunts and uncles, as an ex-ample) who may have small children visiting their household, have no child safety seats of their own and a car seat is not provided by the child’s parents or guardian. Many chil-dren, infants excluded, do not fly on airplanes with a car seat. “Being able to pick grand-children up at the airport and have a seat available and that they know how to use be-comes very important,” says Anna Thompson of Highway Safety.

Child safety seats can be reserved if you know when you will be having family visit. “If

you know ahead of time that you will be needing a car seat, just give our office a call,” recommends Thompson. The seats are loaned out at no cost to the borrower, although the borrower must receive train-ing on the proper method of installation prior to getting the seat for their vehicle. Individuals are trained when they pick up the seat. Thompson is a child passenger safety technician instructor and will give training on how to properly use the seat and how to correctly install the seat in the vehicle. The employee will need to demonstrate their understanding of the installation and how the seat will be used in Thompson’s presence before the seat is loaned out. Thompson continues, “If they

aren’t willing to have the training, then they aren’t willing to have the seat.”

The child car seat can be on loan for the length of the child’s stay at the host’s home. Seven seats are currently available for loan at Headquarters: one infant only seat (5 - 22 lbs.), two convertible seats (in-fant to toddler; 5 lbs. up to 50 lbs.), two combination seats with harnesses (toddler to booster; 40 - 65 lbs.), and two booster seats (one high back, one with no back). The loaner seats must be picked up from Highway Safety in person during normal business hours.

– Carlie Van Winkle

Little Loaners

An example of the car seats that Highway Safety has available for loan at Headquarters. (from left) Combination seat, low back booster, high back booster, convertible seat, and infant only seat.

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Any WYDOT employee interested in running for a political office should become familiar with the Hatch Act.

The law is intended to block office holders from abusing their powers for partisan needs. It was enacted in 1939, after widespread misuse of political power, and initially only applied to fed-eral employees. In 1940, it was amended to extend coverage to state and local employees.

Currently, it applies to individuals who are employed by a state or local agency in the executive branch of government whose principal employment is in con-nection with an activity financed in whole or in part by a federal loan or grant. A federal loan or grant includes those grants that pass through the state or other agency, federal reimbursements or federal subsidies.

Although an employee’s position may be financed by federal loans or grants, it is not necessary that the individual’s salary be paid with federal funds. The Hatch Act covers part-time, temporary or seasonal employees and also applies to individuals on annual leave, sick leave, leave without pay and administrative leave or furlough.

Employees are allowed to attend and be active at various political rallies and meetings, as well as be an active mem-ber of a political party or club, including holding office in such an organization. The individual may also be a candidate for public office in a nonpartisan election, campaign for or against referendums, amendments and ordinances, and make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections.

The Hatch Act begins covering an em-ployee when the individual starts collect-ing signatures for nominating petitions or files nominating petitions, begins fund-raising efforts, makes any announcement to the press, or when they put a campaign committee together.

While the Hatch Act allows many freedoms, an employee may not make

campaign promises of jobs, promotions, financial assistance, or contracts to gain office in an election. The attempt to coerce, directly or indirectly, command or advise a state or local officer to contribute anything of value to a party, committee, agency or individual is not allowed. An employee may not run for public office as a partisan candidate.

A nonpartisan election can quickly turn partisan within the constraints of the Hatch Act when an individual seek-ing office is endorsed by a partisan party member, uses political party resources, advertises the endorsement of a politi-cal party or announces that he or she is a political party candidate.

If the Hatch Act has been violated, the employee may be removed from office and the government job that the individ-ual holds may be held liable for forfeiture of federal funding in an amount equal to two years of said individual’s salary. The individual can also be ordered removed from their position and not allowed to be rehired by any state or local agency within the same state for 18 months.

The Office of Special Counsel can issue advisory opinions to employees concerning the Hatch Act, as well as investigate allegations of political activi-ties prohibited by the law. To find out more about the Office of Special Council or find answers to questions that you may have, consult their Web site at: www.osc.gov/index.

You may also find out more about the Hatch Act on the WYDOT employee’s intranet site under the Human Resources tab.

Written advisory opinions about the Hatch Act may be obtained by mail at:

U.S. Office of Special Counsel1730 M Street, NW (Suite 218)Washington, DC 20036-4505ATTN: Hatch Act Unit

The Hatch Act

Total number of employees:

as of June 2, 2012

2,056One month ago

2,049One year ago

2,073

Don’t wait... August issue submission deadline is

July 20, 2012. send to:

[email protected]

May 2012, Vol. 40, Issue 5Interchangea WYDOT publication

Numerous projects commence this springRoad Construction Begins

June 2012, Vol. 40, Issue 6

Interchangea WYDOT publication

Our WYDOTFamily

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Date Class LocationJuly 12 Creating Buy-In: Becoming an Idea Advocate CheyenneJuly 18 Team Building (WHP Records Section) CheyenneJuly 24 MBTI and Teams CheyenneJuly 24 The Changing Face of America: Diversity and its TLN Implications for Managers and Supervisors

Coming Up in August:Aug 6-10 New Employee Orientation (NEO) Cheyenne

To register, or to find out more details, call the Training Program and talk to David Talley (777-4792),

Jim Boyd (777-4791) or Rhonda DeLeeuw (777-4790).

When you call, ask about the videos, books and audiotapes available from the Training Resource Library.

Glanceat aTraining

Here are upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT University and the

Transportation Learning Network (TLN)

Extra MileAWARDS

Congratulations to the May recipients!WYDOT salutes the following Director’s Extra Mile Award recipients. The award is presented to individuals who have traveled the “extra mile” in service to WYDOT.

Ken LinkJoe CompstonChris SimonKerry NelsonMark DayJohn Wynn Marty McIntoshDan Taylor

Ray VigilMike KelleyMike BowenAndrew KlingenburgJody BrewerNancy CousinsLynn SpenceDavid Messman

Randy ReynoldsGary NelsonDave VanderveenMark FalkKen SpearMarilee Manalo

For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate someone, contact Janet Farrar at [email protected] or

Mel Anderson at [email protected].

husband and I were headed eastbound towards Laramie wondering if we should pull off when we saw the wind warning sign. Thanks a million! We are safe in the motorhome.

Regina Cassidy

Relief Fund helped in time of need

Thank you to the Relief Fund for the help in expenses on my travel to Massa-chusetts for the death of my brother.

Dighton Brazee

Letters cont. from page 2

District Briefs cont. from page 5

Crews install new play-ground at rest area

Buffalo – Travelers on I-90 have the opportunity to stop at the Powder River rest area at milepost 88. As of the Memo-rial Day weekend, the rest area boasts a new playground for younger travelers needing to burn off pent up energy.

District 4 guard rail crew were the installers of the new brightly colored playset. Buffalo maintenance added their touch with new landscaping. The land-scaping enhancements installed give the rest area a fresh new look.

The new playground equipment re-places the previous installation.

New playground installation being kid-tested for the first time.

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After years of design and preparation, the Casper West Belt Loop project is under way this summer. Crews with Kelly Trucking are working to complete the project’s initial portion: construction of bridges

and culverts; the moving of earth

and grading.The West Belt Loop is a new highway which will connect U.S.

20/26 on the northwest side of Casper and Mills to Wyoming High-way 220 on Casper’s southwest side. The 7.07 mile long highway is being constructed to accommodate additional Casper-area traffic. The Golden, Colo., company was awarded the contract in March with a bid of $19.2 million. This initial phase is scheduled to be completed by November 30, 2013, and the highway is expected to be open to traffic in 2015. The surfacing will be placed during a second project set to be constructed in 2015. A large share of the cost of building the route is being covered by an appropriation made by Congress.

The West Belt Loop is expected to relieve congestion created as an increasing number of semis roll through Casper on their way to the mines, oil fields and wind farms. Its construction also effec-tively creates a “belt loop” highway system that surrounds Casper on all sides.

At its junction with WYO 220 – at milepost 108.08 – the new road will feature a westbound on-ramp to WYO 220 and a north-bound off-ramp from WYO 220 coupled with a controlled intersec-tion for all other traffic. At its northern terminus, the new highway

Casper’sWest Belt LoopCasper’sWest Belt LoopCasper’sWest Belt Loop

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N o r t h

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Future WestBelt Loop

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Project includes building 7.1 miles of roadbed for the futureWest Casper Belt Loop (WYO 257) along with associated bridges.Portions of Poison Spider and Roberton roads being realigned to

accomodate new roadway. A second project, for paving, will berequired before belt loop will be opened to tra�c, possibly by 2015.

Bridgeconstruction

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2026

20 26 Bypass

will intersect with U.S. 20-26 at the Sho-shoni Bypass junction just west of Mills. The West Belt Loop’s highway designation will be WYO 257.

The current project includes con-structing two new bridges. The larger of the bridges will span the North Platte River about two miles north of the WYO 220 junction. The bridge will consist of three spans; the center span will measure 215 feet, with the two side spans each measuring 145 feet, for a total span length of 505 feet. The deck will be wide enough to include a 40-foot clear roadway flanked by raised curbs..

The other bridge will cross an un-named draw almost another two miles north of the river. The bridge will measure a little more than 100 feet in length and will also feature a 40-foot clear

roadway width. The future North Platte River bridge

will also be the low point (just under 5,200 feet in elevation) on the route, and the current project includes building climbing lanes for uphill traffic in both directions from bridge. The road will have maximum grades of 5 percent.

About a mile north of the North Platte River bridge, the road will cross the corri-dor of the historic Oregon Trail. A pullout will be constructed at the site to accom-modate future installation of interpretive signing about the trail.

Construction has begun on the re-alignment of Poison Spider and Robert-son roads in Natrona County. The east-west Poison Spider Road will be curved northward from its current intersection with the north-south Robertson Road ap-

proximately one-half-mile north where a new intersection will be constructed. The realignment will be completed at the end of this year’s construction season. The West Belt Loop will cross these roads near their current intersection.

“We’re just at the starting point,” said Resident Engineer Jack Stone. “So far (Kelly Trucking) has begun the realign-ment of Robertson Road with grading and the laying of pipe. They’ve also begun to create a haul road along the (West Belt Loop) route.”

Engineers estimate over 3 million cubic yards of earth will be moved on the entire project.

– Jeff Goetz

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All records have a life cycle. We identify a record’s life cycle for state public records as either permanent or non permanent, and all of our records are classified per their approved retention schedules.

A retention schedule is a timetable that identifies the length of time a record must be retained before destruction for legal governance and legal compliance. Record retention has been with us for a very long time. In fact, retention and destruc-tion of records is even recorded in the Bible. A generalized version would read, “At the end of every seven years; every seventh year is a year of rest to the land, and of remission of debts to poor debtors (meaning debts were released at the end of 7 years).” To this day, most original fi-nancial/fiscal records are retained 7 years. The IRS, also used to tell us to retain our tax records for 7 years.

Because records grow at such an overwhelming rate, no organization has the capability to store and maintain every document they create. Retention sched-ules help us to move permanent records to the state archives for permanent reten-tion or to destroy short term or long term non permanent records when they have completed their life cycle.

Retention schedules are created through the cooperative efforts of each agency and their assigned records analyst from the Records Management Unit of the State Archives. Each record series is detailed on an AR-1 form (AR is the abbreviation for “Analysis of Records”), which when completed is submitted to the Wyoming State Records Committee for their approval. The Wyoming State Records Committee, by state statute, is the only entity that can approve state records retention schedules. The commit-tee is made of three individuals from state

government: one represents the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office and helps to determine legal requirements; the second represents the Wyoming Department of Audit to determine the fiscal require-ments; and the third member represents the Wyoming State Archives to determine the enduring historical value.

We all create records through daily business transactions, which are consid-ered active records. But when records are no longer active, and depending on their retention schedule, our permanent re-cords are transferred to the State Records Center for permanent storage, and once our non-permanent records have com-pleted their life cycle, as per the retention schedule, they are eligible for destruction through recycling or shredding. Retention schedules help us to maintain governance and legal compliance by not keeping records less than or longer than their life cycle.

There can be a significant liability to the state if we keep records longer than their approved retention, while at the same time, destroying records before their approved legal destruction is also a significant liability to the state. The only reason records should be retained longer than the retention schedule states, is in the event of an audit or legal action.

Retention schedules are more impor-tant than many people realize. For ex-ample, the retention for our Maintenance Activity Reports (M-17’s) states; “Retain in district for two years, then forward to headquarters records section. Hold in records section for one additional fiscal

year and destroy.” If for some reason these documents were part of an anticipated legal action, then it is important that the division/section head communicate this to Office Services to place these records on legal hold to prevent destruction. This communication stops any possible de-struction and these documents are placed in a secured area (if not handed over to the courts). This same action happens if a judge does, in fact, request documents, or if any documents are a part of discov-ery (including e-discovery for electronic records), during a legal action. Either way, the records are placed on a legal hold until released by the judge.

In the event we have followed our retention schedules, and destroyed a record series prior to the knowledge of or processes of a legal action, we are still responsible to show evidence of legal compliance and that the records were de-stroyed per the legal retention schedule. The courts look favorably upon following the legal process. In the event the records were kept longer than required by the re-tention schedule, we would be required to continue to keep them even longer and to have them available for the legal action. On the flip side, if the lawsuit started, and we destroyed these documents instead of securing them, WYDOT would be in a very difficult position of possible legal sanctions and very expensive court or-dered fines. A perfect example of this last

Third in a series of three.

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scenario was the now infamous Enron and Arthur Anderson debacle.

Some people think that just because various records/documents switched to or are being created by a different media (no longer hard copy and are now electronic, microfilm, etc.), that the retention sched-ule changes. That is not true. Nothing has changed about the document or content, only the media. This is why it is so impor-tant for the IT Department & the Records Department to work together. Everyone is responsible for the retention of all records they create, regardless of the format. Re-member at the end of a record’s life cycle, it is just as important to not have these documents as it is to have them – regard-less of the media!

“Technology alone is not and can-not be a substitute for managing paper and electronic records. Building a solid foundation of records and information management is absolutely necessary before investing in and implementing any kind of RIM-ERM (Records Information Management/Electronic Records Man-agement) solutions.” - Managing Munici-pal Records in Colorado: A RIM-ERM Toolkit.

I wanted to touch on one more subject: disaster recovery. Does your department have a plan in place? Not many depart-ments do. When a disaster strikes, how many of us are prepared to deal with the outcome in our personal lives let alone our employment? Besides panicking, do you know what to do with wet docu-ments? Or mud soaked documents? Our Office Services are finalizing their Disas-ter Recovery Plan, if you are interested in looking at it, please contact Tim Tyler, Office Services manager, at 777-4380 or Barb Thomasee, Records supervisor, at 777-4494 and they will be happy to share these very important business continuity issues with you.

This fall and coming spring of 2013, the Wyoming Chapter of the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) will be presenting fall work-shops and a spring seminar on this very subject. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Tim or Barb.

– Barbara Thomasee

First Wyoming-trained Alive at 25 instructors graduate

The first class of Alive at 25 instructors trained by the Wyoming Highway Patrol graduated in May, with Troopers David Homer, Andrew Jackson, Kyle McKay, Jonathan Russell and Lt. Will Zilka receiving their certificates.

The Alive at 25 safety education program for drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 has been offered in Wyoming since 2006, but previously the instructors were trained through Colorado’s program.

Having its own instructor training program will save the Patrol money and allow it to adapt the program to fit Wyoming’s needs. Sgt. Duane Ellis completed his certification to train Wyoming instructors, and taught the five new graduates.

“It’s very evident to me that you guys are here because you want to save lives, and the way you teach and the commitment that you have put into it is touching,” Ellis told the graduates. “You will not know the people that you touch. Very seldom will you have someone come up to you and say, ‘You saved my life.’ But you will save lives.”

Col. John Butler commended Lt. Troy McLees and Ellis for their work in getting the Alive at 25 program started in Wyoming and the new graduates for volunteering to be a part of it.

“I don’t know of a greater program that we have in this organization than Alive at 25, so you guys are part of a pretty elite group,” Butler said. “I’m looking forward to you folks taking this on and the impact you’re going to have. I congratulate you and thank you for stepping up to do this.”

The new graduates bring to 16 the total number of troopers certified to teach the classes around the state. Homer is stationed in Lyman, Jackson in Afton, McKay in Cheyenne, Russell in Casper and Zilka in Gillette.

Since September 2006, more than 5,700 Wyoming students have completed the class. So far, only one of those students has gone on to become a traffic fatality, and that was as a passenger.

Nationally, an average of about 11,000 people between the ages of 15 and 24 are killed in traffic crashes each year.

“That’s more people than we’ve lost in our military since 9-11, and those are sol-diers getting shot at by people trying to kill them,” Zilka said. “These kids are doing it to themselves. So if we can give them some education, open some eyes, give them the control, we can change some of that.”

There has been a 72 percent drop in fatalities among 15- to 24-year-olds in Colorado since the program began there, and that’s the kind of impact the new instructors hope to contribute to in Wyoming.

“I think we’ve all seen the lives that are devastated by the poor choices that kids make, and that really motivates us to go out and try to make a difference,” McKay said.

“With this program, we can get them when they’re young and help them start making good decisions so it carries over their whole life,” Jackson added.

Troopers Andrew Jackson, Kyle McKay, Jonathan Russell, David Homer, and Lt. Will Zilka received their graduation certifcates from Sgt. Duane Ellis, one of WHP’s Alive at 25 instructors.

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District newsHeadquarters

District 1

WelcomeMatthew Haas, Cheyenne Mainte-

nance.

Service AwardsEdward Daniels, Laramie Port of

Entry – 25 years;Vincent Birkle, Cheyenne Mainte-

nance – 5 years;Joey Christensen, Laramie Mainte-

nance – 5 years;Chad Varland, Cheyenne Mainte-

nance – 5 years;

District 2

WelcomeJames Farrell, Douglas Construction.

Service AwardsMichael Chaussee,

Casper Construction – 30 years;

Keith Lengkeek, Douglas Construction – 30 years;

Kevin Hoff, Casper Construction – 10 years;

William Burt, Lusk Maintenance – 5 years.

WelcomeChristopher Kwilinski, Highway

Safety; Heather Winchell, Fuel Tax-Uni-formity; and Vance Lucero, Equipment Mechanics.

Service AwardsThomas Adkins, Planning-Program-

ming – 35 years;Michael Janicek, Highway Safety – 35

years; Michael Reyes, Materials-Surfacing –

30 years;Jeffrey Brown, Traffic Administration

– 25 years;Kenneth Spear, Contracts and Esti-

mates – 20 years;Jared Nuhn, Geology-Drillers – 15

years;Brenden Schaefer, Bridge-Operations

Design – 15 years;Kelly Yerdon, Motor Vehicle Services-

Registration/Title – 15 years;Therese Goodman, Highway Devel-

opment-Project Development – 10 years;Dennis Johnson, Materials-Surfacing

– 10 years;Randy Ringstmeyer, Bridge-Opera-

tions Inspection – 10 years;Troy Tenney, Highway Development-

Photogrammetry/Survey – 10 years;James Zuniga, Facility Maintenance-

Custodial – 10 years;Jason Armstrong, Information Tech-

nology Support –5 years;Daniel Cooley, Highway Develop-

ment-Engineering Services – 5 years;Blaise Hansen, Geology – 5 years;Leslie Jones, Driver Services-Policy

and Records – 5 years;Mark Kelly, Telecom District 1 Radio

Shop – 5 years;Shannon Sandoval, Equipment Me-

chanics – 5 years.

RetirementsMichael Schulte, Geology; Cheryl

Wilson, Highway Development-Photo-grammetry/Survey

Cradle CallProud grandparents, Shelly and Ron

Erickson of Cheyenne welcome their first grandchild, Olivia Novae Erickson. She was born May 1, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces and measuring 19.25 inches.

Olivia’s proud parents are Brian and Tiffany Erickson of Cheyenne. Brian works for the State Library in Cheyenne.

Erin and Garth Simkins welcomed their second child, Harper Olivia Sim-kins, into this world on Jan. 29 weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce. Proud big sister, Reese, is also pleased with the new addi-tion to the family.

Erin works in Financial Services at Headquarters.

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Harper Olivia Simpkins

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Mike Chaussee (left) receiving his plaque from District Engineer Lowell Fleenor.

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Keith Lengkeek

DON’T RISK IT

CLICK IT O R TIC

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May and June Service Award Recipients

Service AwardsLanae Wynn,

Evanston Port of Entry – 25 years;

Chancey Duncan, Rock Springs Patrol Field – 5 years;

Carol Perkins, Alpine Junction Port of Entry – 5 years.

District 3

Due to the occasional limitation of space, service award photos (if not found here in the District News pages) can be found on the intranet at: http://employees.dot.state.wy.us/cms/achievements

A.J. and Angela Gillaspie

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Thomas receiving his Special Officer certificate of completion from Capt. Shawn Dickerson.

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RetirementsKeith Lundine, Wheatland Construc-

tion; and Dennis Green, Lusk Mainte-nance.

CongratulationsCongrats to Thomas Rowley, Tor-

rington Port of Entry, on passing his Special Officer class on May 2.

Best wishes go to Shirley Rim foreman David Gillaspie and his wife, Susan, on the marriage of their oldest son A.J. to Angela Dudon. The June 16 ceremony was held at Bear Trap Meadow on Casper Mountain. The newlyweds will live in Wheatland.

Lanae Wynn

District 4

WelcomeKyle Seymour, Buffalo Maintenance;

and Robbie Goodnough, Moorcroft Maintenance.

Service Awards Michael Condon,

Buffalo Construction – 5 years

RetirementsTerry Wiechert,

Sundance Mainte-nance.

Michael Condon

District 5

WelcomeWilliam Hensel, Basin Construction

Service Awards Mike Hitshew, South Pass Mainte-

nance – 25 years;Eric Curtin, Lander Traffic Striping –

5 years;Lawrence Griffin, Basin Mechanics –

5 years;Braeden Hyde, Highway Develop-

ment-Project Development-Laramie Design Squad – 5 years;

Joseph Keele, Basin Traffic Striping – 5 years;

Kevin Maynard, South Pass Mainte-nance – 5 years.

RetirementsClifford Tillotson, Cody Mainte-

nance.

Service award luncheons are held by the Transportation Commission for employees celebrating milestones of 25 years of service or greater.

Our May and June service award recipients: (back) Mike Hitshew and Jeff Brown. (front) Lanae Wynn and Mark Briggs.

Photo: Rick Carpenter/WYDOT

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In the CommunityBike rodeo promotes safety

Chugwater – The WYDOT Bike/Pedestrian and Safe Routes To School program provided backpacks, flashing night-lights, and bike helmets to students of the Chugwater Schools to be given out for their bike skills program and bike ro-deo. This program was primarily for stu-dents in elementary and middle school, but some high school age kids also joined in on the fun. About 40 kids participated in the event sponsored by teachers from the area’s schools.

The bike skills program and bike rodeo teaches kids safe riding practices and skills.

This year’s event included at least one child who had never ridden a bike before. He was absolutely thrilled with this newly acquired recreational ability.

All of the kids enjoyed the safety gear provided by the program so much they made a thank you poster which everyone signed.

WYDOT crews mentor student

Lyman – WYDOT District 3’s con-struction and maintenance crews took a local high school student under their wing recently as part of a youth mentor-ing program in the Bridger Valley. Nicky Riggs of Mountain View High School spent the day learning what it takes to be a part of the Evanston Construction crew. Construction crew members Cindy Brown, Bob Graham and Lonny Sellers took the time to teach Riggs the ropes of working at WYDOT on a construction project in Urie last month.

Riggs said he took interest in WYDOT after a maintenance operator came to speak at his school. “That gave me some interest in what they were doing,” Riggs said. He also said he enjoyed working outside and working with the WYDOT crews. “I could definitely see myself doing this kind of work,” Riggs said.

The Lyman Maintenance crews usually mentor about two kids a year from the local high school.

“We just like to help these kids out,” Maintenance Foreman Lon Richardson said. “And if we can pique some interest in working for WYDOT, we may find we have a good future hand.”

Nicky Riggs (left) with Evanston construction crew members Cindy Brown, Bob Graham and Lonny Sellers.

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Participants of the Chugwater bike skills progam and bike rodeo signed a thank you poster in appreciation of WYDOT’s support.

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Retirement spawns promotion in GeologyMike Schulte of the Geology Program at headquarters re-

tired June 1, concluding 31 years of state service.Schulte, a Casper native, joined the old Wyoming Highway

Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, in 1981, a year after earning his bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Wyoming. He spent his entire career in Geology, and retired as a geology supervisor.

In addition to this professional capacity as a geologist, Schul-te has long maintained in interest in rock-hounding, and he is a member of the Wyoming Prospectors Association. While at WYDOT, he began a side business as a lapidary (an artisan who polishes and/or engraves gems and other precious stones); he is particularly well known for using laser equipment to engrave items such as granite plaques and jade golf putters.

Schulte has also been active in aviation and was a charter member of the Wyoming Pilots Association. His exploits include photographing landslide areas from the air and flying his own plane to and from Kitty Hawk, N.C., in 2003 for the Centennial Anniver-sary of Flight celebration.

Dave Vanderveen, a 12-year veteran of Geology, was promoted to fill the opening created by Schulte’s departure. Vanderveen, who attended high school in Moraga, Calif., earned his bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Idaho in 1997 and his master’s degree in geology from Washington State University in 1999.

Mike Schulte

HIGHWAY SAFETYPROGRAM

WYOMINGHIGHWAY PATROL

Always use a designated driver.

Always use a designated driver.

Over the Limit?Under Arrest.

Over the Limit?Under Arrest.

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WYDOT Outdoors

Clockwise from top left:• Clint Lockman, Rock Springs resident engineer, with his prize turkey at the Fourth Annual Old West Turkey Shoot.

• Aaron Lockman, son of Clint Lockman, with a prize turkey near Hulett.

• Ryan Gossens, Lovell maintenance crew, with his bull elk shot above Hyatville. The elk scored a 349 straight, 49 inches wide outer.

• Shawn Coggins, Meeteetse maintenance crew, found these shed antlers just 25 yards apart in black timber. They are from a 330 inch bull in the Bighorn Basin.

• Mike Rose, friend of Shawn Coggins of Meeteetse, found this 376 inch bull winter kill in the Bighorn Basin.

• Tim Stark from Environmental Services shot these two images while on an after-noon wellness walk. The first image is of a family of geese with their new offspring.

The second is of a black crowned night heron seen wading in the Cheyenne Country Club lake.

Photo courtesy Tim Stark

Photo courtesy Tim Stark

Photo courtesy Shawn Coggins

Photo courtesy Shawn Coggins

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Photo courtesy Clint LockmanPhoto courtesy Clint Lockman

The next WYDOT Outdoors issue is October. Submit

your photos no later than September 14, 2012.

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WTD

EA S

tore

If you would like your WTDEA event to be placed in Interchange, please contact Tina Thomas, [email protected] or

Tony Niswender, [email protected] sure to check out our internet classified site at: http://wtdeaclassified.com

HatsHatsWTDEA State Board is selling hats. The hats are $18. Contact your WTDEA representative for more information.

GlovesGlovesPigskin leather work gloves. $5.25 for members, $6.25 for non-members. Call Tina Thomas at 777-4486.

CookbookCookbookThe Roadkill Cookbook is selling for $10. Call Barbara Thomasee at 777-4494.

Cash CalendarCash CalendarAn 18 Month Calendar (7/2012 - 12/2013) is selling for $15. Daily chances to win starting January 2013. Contact your representative for information.

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

January 2013S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 22 23 24 25 2627 28 29 30 31

December 2012S M T W T F S

1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10

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November 2012

25

Christmas Day

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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September 2013

August 2013July 2013

S M T W T F S1 2 3 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 26 27 2829 30

Weekdays $10.00 Drawings Weekends

$20.00 DrawingsHolidays$50.00 Drawings

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

September 2012

Labor Day

October 2012

August 2012S M T W T F S

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June 2013S M T W T F S

12 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930

Independence Day

Weekdays $10.00 Drawings Weekends

$20.00 DrawingsHolidays$50.00 Drawings

1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 27

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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November 2012

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September 2012S M T W T F S

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16 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930

PassingsLemich, former fore-man and commissioner, passes

Emil Lemich, who served the old Wyoming Highway Department (WHD), WYDOT’s prede-cessor agency, first as a maintenance foreman and later as a highway com-missioner, died May 19 in Cedar City, Utah. He was 84.

Lemich was born in Rock Springs and grew up in nearby Winton. After graduating from Reliance High School, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving with the Seabees during the Korean War.

After mustering out of the service, Lemich initially worked for Union Pacific Railroad in Green River before joining WHD in Rock Springs. He was promoted to maintenance foreman, stationed first in Farson before transferring to Rawlins.

While in Rawlins, Lemich started working a second job as a trailer salesman

and after leaving WHD in the early 1970s, opened Skyline Motors, an automobile dealer-ship. He later operated Dallin Motors and owned other business as well.

Lemich subsequent-ly served as a Carbon County commissioner, and in 1981, Gov. Ed Herschler appointed him to a six-year term on the Highway Com-

mission. He was commission chairman from 1983-85.

As a highway commissioner, Lemich “was considered an advocate for the state’s maintenance crews,” retired Commission Secretary Keith Rounds remembered.

“Since he had once been among the ranks of the Highway Department, he was, as commissioner, an ally for the crews–someone on their side.”

Lemich’s community service also in-cluded memberships in the Masons, Elks, Odd Fellows and the board of directors for Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Funeral services were conducted June 2 in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, where he had lived during retirement.

Editor’s note:A clarification to last month’s Sterling

Fritzler obituary, where there was an un-intentional omission: Fritzler is survived by parents Conrad and Edna of Laramie, brothers Rex and Colin, and sisters Julie McGinnis and Connie Wibbens.

Lemich (left) receiving his 5-year service award as Highway Commissioner from Leno Menghini, circa 1986.

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July 2012 n Interchange 19

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Page 20: Interchange - July 2012

Pre-sortedStandard

U.S. Postage PaidCheyenne, WY 82009

Permit No. 24

InterchangeWyoming Department of Transportation5300 Bishop Blvd.Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340

Address Service Requested