Page 1 Pinedale Roundup March 23, 2018
LOCAL
April 12 concert
performance announced
See A3
Newspaper of the Upper Green River Valley, Est. 1904
Supremes Rendezvous Pointe expansion on hold
By Holly Dabb
schedule
Haskell oral
arguments
By Joy Ufford
jufford@pinedaleroundup.com
SUBLETTE COUNTY – The Wyoming
Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on
April 17 for and against a former sheriff’s ap-
peal of his 2016 felony convictions in Ninth
District Court.
Stephen R. Haskell, of Big Piney, filed his
appeal brief on Jan. 16 with the Wyoming Su-
preme Court.
In it, his attorneys Michael Bennett and
Timothy Newcomb argue his constitutional
right to a fair trial was denied due to a biased
jury.
In a previously unrevealed twist, it says a
juror sent a “startling” note to the judge – after
the prosecution rested and before Haskell’s de-
fense began – saying he had “heard enough.”
The State Attorney General’s Office re-
sponded with its own brief saying by not ad-
dressing the potential juror bias at that time,
it was too late for Haskell to claim he was
wronged. Also, it states, that juror’s bias could
have just as easily been in favor of Haskell, the
brief says, regardless of the jury’s swearing to
remain impartial through the entire trial.
Another argument both sides are wrangling
over is whether or not Wyoming law says the
“wrongdoer must obtain title to and posses-
sion of property” for criminal charges against
a public official.
Also, defense attorney Newcomb helped
craft the winning Supreme Court appeal
strategy for former Albany County Attorney
Richard C. Bohling, whose conviction on sim-
ilar charges were overturned by the justices.
Haskell’s appeal makes frequent references to
See ‘HASKELL’ on page 3A
­­Health district submits loan application
Leaning toward hiring a management company to run CAH
By Cody Olivas
colivas@pinedaleroundup.com
PINEDALE – The Sublette County Rural
Health Care District submitted its loan appli-
cation to the United States Department of Ag-
riculture’s Rural Development office to build
a critical access hospital in Pinedale recently.
The USDA’s Lorraine Werner reviewed
the application and asked the district to make
some revisions.
Among the changes were including ad-
ditional management costs, explanations of
some of the assumptions made and also an ex-
planation how the new hospital won’t hurt the
Sublette Center.
The revised plan has been submitted to the
USDA and also posted on the health district’s
pinedaleroundup.com • rough-neck.com
LOCAL
Do you want to
be a performer?
See A7
hdabb@pinedaleroundup.com
PINEDALE – On the drawing table for
three years, an expansion project for Ren-
dezvous Pointe is on hold temporarily, after
to attempts to advertise the construction
project had poor results.
Paul Jensen, executive director for Ren-
dezvous Pointe, said the project has been in
the works, with designs done and money
raised from donations in the bank. However,
the building is owned by Sublette County.
Commissioners approved an 800-square-
foot addition three years ago.
The first time the project went to bid in
2016 no contractors bid on the project.
Jensen said there was some confusion
with the designs and revisions were com-
pleted on Jan. 5, 2017. The new plans were
approved for fire codes.
The county advertised the project for bid
a second time and only one contractor sub-
mitted a bid.
Jensen said the project estimate came in
at $425 a square foot.
“I’ve looked at building cost comparisons
and know that is too high,” Jensen said. He
said he understood $300 or $325 a square
foot, slightly over the national average, but
not 25 percent more.
As time has passed, the plans will have to
be looked at again to determine if any new
fire codes will apply since the January 2017
revisions.
One candidate filed for mayor
By Holly Dabb
hdabb@pinedaleroundup.com
PINEDALE –­The opening date to file to
run for Pinedale Town Council was March
14. One week into the filing period and as of
March 22 at 10 a.m. only one candidate has
filed to run for mayor.
Current council member Tyler Swafford,
34, 289 Spruce St., has filed for the open may-
website.
In the original plan, the district planned on
paying the hospital’s management $200,000 a
year.
Werner told the district to set aside an ad-
ditional $300,000 a year to cover the manage-
ment costs.
At the February board meeting, the district
formed a committee, headed by vice chairman
Laura Clark, to look at different management
options for the critical access hospital.
At that time, three options were on the
table: hiring a chief executive officer, having
St. John’s help manage the hospital or hiring a
management company.
Since St. John’s isn’t a critical access hos-
pital and doesn’t have experience with them,
that option was removed.
SPORTS
Local musher
competes
See B2
MARCH 23, 2018 One Dollar
Holly Dabb photo
Paul Jensen, executive director for Rendezvous Pointe, holds the
plans for an 800-square-foot expansion. The project is on hold after
Sublette County commissioners chose not to advertise the project
for bid.
Todd Hurd, the county’s contract man- curring the costs of advertising a project that
ager, asked at the Tuesday, March 13, County might be changed again.
Commission meeting if the county wanted to Jensen said he is hoping to have the proj-
advertise the project for bid for a third time. ect reviewed again in the near future.
While not voting on the issue, commission- Once completed, the extra multipurpose
ers said they want to have confirmation on room added to the west side of the building
the fire codes before moving forward and in-
will allow more activities at the facility.n
or’s seat. Swafford expire in 2020.
No one has filed for the two vacant council The last day to file as a candidate is Fri-
seats including the incumbents. day, April 27. Anyone wanting to file should
Pinedale’s elected council includes a mayor submit an application with the Pinedale Town
and four town council members. The mayor Clerk. The election is Tuesday, May 8.
and two town council positions are up for elec- Elected council members take the oath of
tion this spring. The four-year term for Mayor office on Friday, June 1.
Bob Jones and four-year terms for council To qualify to run for Pinedale Council, can-
members Matt Murdock and Nylla Kunard didates must be 18 year of age or older, be a
expire this year. The terms for Jim Brost and
See ‘MAYOR’ on page 3A
Hiring a CEO or a management company, In addition to explaining some of the as-
like Cyprus, would cost about the same, ap- sumptions made in the report, which the
proximately $200,000 per year. In both scenar- district said were conservative, Werner also
ios, the district will also need an administrator, asked for more details how the critical access
which will cost approximately $150,000 per hospital would affect the Sublette Center.
year, plus 28 percent for benefits. In a recent press release, Scherbel said,
With the costs similar among the options, “The District does not intend to use swing-bed
the district is leaning toward hiring Cyprus, an as a substitution for the value a skilled nursing
umbrella management company, to help run facility provides. Management anticipates the
the Sublette County Medical Center if the loan majority of the CAH swing-bed volumes will
is approved. be drawn from the competitors outside of Sub-
Cyprus manages other critical access hos- lette County that residents are currently using
pitals, like the Deer Lodge Medical Center in rather than from the Sublette Center.”
Montana. He explained, “The Swing Bed program
The management company would do a lot will be utilized for medically complex Medi-
of financial oversight and, Chairman Scott care patients that need additional time in the
Scherbel said, guarantee that the hospital has CAH beyond the 96-hour limited stay. The
know-how at the top. See ‘CAH’ on page 3A
Official newspaper of Sublette County and the town
of Pinedale.