Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Not a bad job..."}]

Smile 6 15 23

Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>Daily Smile: Thursday, June 15, 2023 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Not a bad job...

Daily Smile: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Courts

A former Special Olympics Wyoming employee accused of stealing more than $200,000 from the nonprofit has agreed to plead guilty to six felonies, bringing one of Wyoming's most closely watched charity theft cases a major step closer to resolution.

A plea agreement filed in Natrona County District Court shows Christine Rodriguez, 57, of Bar Nunn, will plead guilty to three counts of felony theft and three counts of felony forgery. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss three additional forgery charges, according to documents made available Monday.

[{"type":"text","text":"The agreement still must be accepted by a judge."}]

Rodriguez's attorney, Ryan Semerad, declined to discuss the specifics of the agreement before sentencing but said his client is accepting responsibility.

"She is very remorseful for her actions and deeply regrets them," Semerad told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday, adding the defense plans to address those issues more fully at sentencing. 

Rodriguez worked for Special Olympics Wyoming for roughly a decade before the alleged thefts came to light.

[{"type":"text","text":"Police Called Alleged Scheme 'Sophisticated'"}]

Casper police arrested Rodriguez in April after a monthslong financial crimes investigation into the missing money.

Investigators alleged Rodriguez embezzled roughly $206,000 over several years by writing unauthorized checks, falsifying financial records, forging signatures and concealing missing cash.

Police described the alleged scheme as "sophisticated," alleging Rodriguez altered audit documentation and misapplied deposits to hide missing cash. Investigators said those actions concealed the missing money from the nonprofit for years.

When Rodriguez first appeared in court in April, she was charged with nine felonies — three counts of theft and six counts of forgery.

The alleged theft reached far beyond a balance sheet. The missing money belonged to a nonprofit that raises funds to provide year-round athletic training and competition for Wyoming athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Lead investigator Officer Jace Carver added that crimes involving charitable organizations ultimately hurt the athletes and families those organizations exist to serve.

[{"type":"text","text":"Three Charges Dismissed"}]

Under the negotiated plea agreement, Rodriguez will plead guilty to the three theft charges and the first three forgery charges.

[{"type":"text","text":"The remaining three forgery counts will be dismissed."}]

The agreement also outlines how the parties will recommend Rodriguez be sentenced.

The three theft convictions would run concurrently, and the three forgery convictions would also run concurrently. Those two groups of convictions, however, could be ordered to run consecutively, leaving Rodriguez with a maximum sentencing exposure of 18 to 20 years in prison.

The plea agreement also states Rodriguez cannot withdraw her guilty pleas if the judge ultimately imposes a sentence different from the prosecution's recommendation.

[{"type":"text","text":"Restitution Still Pending"}]

Rodriguez agreed to pay restitution for all criminal conduct, including losses tied to the three forgery charges to be dismissed.

The final restitution amount has not been determined, though both sides anticipate it will exceed $200,000, the plea agreement says.

Police credited Special Olympics Wyoming with providing extensive financial records and cooperating throughout the investigation.

Because of the scope and complexity of the review, detectives enlisted the Rocky Mountain Information Network — part of the Regional Information Sharing Systems network — to help analyze the records.

Investigators also noted the case carried added significance because of Special Olympics Wyoming's longstanding partnership with law enforcement through programs such as the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Tip-A-Cop fundraisers.

[{"type":"text","text":"Organization Waiting For Sentencing"}]

Special Olympics Wyoming CEO Jen Haines declined to comment on the specifics of the plea agreement, saying the organization does not want to jeopardize the proceedings and plans to speak more openly once the case is resolved.

Haines did confirm one important detail: The organization has not received any restitution while the criminal case remains pending

 She said the restitution amount, along with any prison sentence, is expected to be determined at sentencing. 

In a written statement, the organization said it remains focused on the people it serves.

"Special Olympics Wyoming is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and protecting the interests of all of our athletes, donors, and supporters,” it says. "Special Olympics Wyoming appreciates the past, and continued, much-needed support of SOWY athletes at this time. SOWY has been offering sports training and competition programming since 1972 and looks forward to the continued implementation of our mission to benefit athletes with intellectual disabilities from across Wyoming."

Christine rodriguez special olympics 7 22 26

<title>Woman Accused of Stealing $200K From Special Olympics To Plead Guilty To Six Felonies | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Bar Nunn woman has agreed to plead guilty to six felonies for embezzling $206,000 from Special Olympics Wyoming. Her attorney told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday that she is "very remorseful for her actions and deeply regrets them."

Woman Accused of Stealing $200K From Special Olympics To Plead Guilty To Six Felonies

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's business and tourism reporter, Renée Jean

Renée Jean

Wyoming Life

Cheyenne Frontier Days' new “skybox” experience might be two or three stories above the rodeo action, but somehow that action feels closer than ever.

It’s a curious paradox, hard to explain until you’ve seen it yourself.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Maybe it’s the view."}]

It’s full-on. It’s literally over the top. Your eyes stretch from one end of Cheyenne’s historic outdoor arena — the largest outdoor rodeo arena in the world — to the other end, with no obstructions. 

Stand or sit wherever you want. It doesn’t matter. The view will still feel as if you’re a king or a queen, looking down on creation. Fix your gaze anywhere you like.

Or maybe it’s the sound, wired straight into the box and wrapping itself around spectators. 

It’s immersive — pounding hooves, foot-stomping music, the cheering crowd. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Like some kind of rodeo dream."}]

The announcer’s voice rolls over it all like thunder.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Long Overdue Leap"}]

Cheyenne Frontier Days has been delivering world-class rodeo competition since 1897, drawing elite cowboys and top-tier musicians to the “Daddy of 'em All.” 

Until now, however, the venue has lacked a true, modern skybox experience. While the grounds previously offered limited, basic, upper-level VIP areas, the new complex marks a much bigger leap into premium hospitality. 

CFD CEO Tom Hirsig has told Cowboy State Daily the $8 million multi-level facility was a long-overdue necessity. 

What CFD had previously was essentially a weathered wooden box above the ropes that Hirsig said had “far outlived its life expectancy.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Fixing it would be a huge challenge. "}]

But it also presented an opportunity — one that could support the rodeo’s future.

“One of the things we recognized is the need for VIP experiences,” Hirsig said. “Those are the fastest things that go, if there’s some sort of VIP area.”

A VIP area done right not only supports itself, it also helps chip away at deferred maintenance, he said. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"From Sliders To Shade"}]

 VIP experiences had room for roughly 25 sponsors, as well as a rooftop area that could accommodate about 70 people.

Now there’s room for about 450 in a mix of VIP boxes that are perfect for parties of around 30, along with individual seats that cost $125 each for those who aren’t part of a large group.

The private VIP box suites all come pre-stocked with snacks and drinks. Guests can also order a range of catered items. 

On Tuesday afternoon, the skybox occupied by Nate Janousek and his family felt as if a family living room had been dropped over Chute 9. The children leaned against the rail to watch broncs explode from the chutes, while parents huddled over drinks and plates piled with brisket sliders, wings, and corn dogs. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"There were smiles all around."}]

“This was all really good,” Janousek told Cowboy State Daily. “There’s tons of catering options, and everything we’ve had has been terrific.”

Janousek, who provides concessions at CFD, comes to the rodeo every year, but Tuesday was family day for him, so he decided to do something special. 

“The view above Chute 9 is incredible for the steer roping events and the steer wrestling,” he said. “And then just the ability to have so many spaces for the seating and the televisions, and places for food and drink and stuff like that.”

The light breeze constantly blowing in felt like air conditioning, he added.

“You’re not getting blasted by the sun,” he said. “It’s really terrific. I think it’s going to be harder and harder to get these as people find out.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"'This Is Just Fantastic'"}]

From their skybox perch, Jennifer Gray and her travel buddy, Brian Hayes, could see straight down into Chute 9. 

That was just perfect for Gray, who was videotaping each steer, hoping to catch a cowboy wrestling one to the ground. 

The previous day, she and Hayes had squinted into the sun from the grandstands, craning around hats and flags to catch the Military Monday displays. Gray’s son was to have been part of a parachute jump that ultimately was canceled. 

“This is just fantastic,” Hayes said. “The view, to be able to see the action, especially right down in here, it’s just amazing.

“We sat over there yesterday,” he added, gesturing toward the left-hand stands. “And this is like a whole different experience.”

For former roughstock rider Chris Hall, the skybox is as close as he can get to an arena these days. Hall did “that stuff” as a teenager, he said, nodding toward a bucking bronc throwing a rider to the dirt about two seconds into his ride. 

“I’m all broken, so I can’t do any of this stuff anymore,” he said. “But I love watching it.”

He watched a string of riders “tossed one right after the other,” calling it “crazy” and grinning like he’d just been down in the chutes himself. 

Drinks and snacks were just a few steps away, he added, and there were no lines, making a drink run feel seamless and smooth. 

Skip and Taryn Schuman, CFD regulars from Fort Collins, Colorado, felt the same about the skybox versus just about any other place they’ve tried at CFD, from the Wrangler box to the grandstand benches. 

“That was fun, but this is so much better,” Skip told Cowboy State Daily. “It’s classier.”

“And there’s an elevator for the old folks,” his wife added with a chuckle. “Before the stairs were real steep. It’s so nice and cool up here. The seats are comfortable.”

“There’s food and drinks,” her husband continued. “You’ve got everything here. Check, check and check.”

For all its new polish, the skybox doesn’t change the essence of Cheyenne Frontier Days. It’s still the same old rodeo it’s always been. But now there are softer seats and party rooms — with a commanding view, one that will make spectators feel like royalty at the rodeo. 

CFD Sky Box 20260721 153424 7 22 26

<title>Cheyenne Frontier Days' New Skybox Delivers Luxury — And An Over The Top View | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Soft seats, catered food, and a commanding view — Cheyenne Frontier Days’ premium skybox experience already has fans. “The view above Chute 9 is incredible,” one said. “I think it’s going to be harder and harder to get these as people find out.”

Cheyenne Frontier Days' New Skybox Delivers Luxury — And An Over The Top View

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Government & Politics

Politics

State Sen. Eric Barlow released poll results Tuesday showing him with a sizable lead over other Republican candidates in the race for Wyoming governor.

[{"type":"text","text":"Two of his opponents doubt that outcome. One of them doesn’t."}]

Barlow, a legislator of 13 years and former House speaker, is running for the Republican nomination against Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, retired Marine Col. Brent Bien, and Centennial man Curt Blake.

His campaign released polling results Tuesday showing him at 42% support, followed by Degenfelder at 19% and Bien at 14% — with 22% undecided — when people were asked who they would vote for if the election were held today.

The poll was taken in the past three days by the Pulse Decision Science firm, the campaign says.

“Barlow has gained 10 points since the campaign’s previous survey and his net favorability has climbed from +19 to +34,” says a Tuesday statement by his campaign. “This comes even as he has been outspent more than 5-to-1 by Degenfelder and the outside groups supporting her.”

Barlow said he’s taken six full trips through all 23 Wyoming counties and is starting his seventh statewide tour.

[{"type":"text","text":"The primary election is set for Aug. 18."}]

“We believed from the beginning that if we showed up, listened and stayed focused on Wyoming, voters would respond,” Barlow said. “This poll is encouraging, but it does not change how we campaign.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"We will keep showing up, keep listening and keep earning every vote.\""}]

Barlow told Cowboy State Daily in a Tuesday-evening phone call that he trusts the polling, and its cross-tabulation veracity checks. He said Wyomingites' reception of him on the campaign trail is also "quite encouraging." 

His campaign has amassed 2,500 volunteers and contributions from nearly 2,000 individual Wyoming donors, with more than $1 million raised from in-state individuals, the statement says.

The statement says Barlow has focused his campaign on expanding economic opportunity, improving access to rural health care, strengthening Wyoming’s energy and agriculture industries, addressing housing challenges, keeping decisions local and keeping the state's public lands accessible to Wyomingites. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Nah, Says Degenfelder"}]

Degenfelder’s campaign manager Charlotte Jones emphasized that Barlow’s numbers are from his own campaign.

“Voters should take the Barlow campaign’s internal ‘polling’ numbers with a heavy grain of salt, which come as no surprise from the campaign of a career politician desperately trying to run from his record of opposing Wyoming Industries and Wyoming values,” wrote Jones in a Tuesday email. 

“Megan’s campaign is focused on talking to voters about the issues they care about and highlighting her record as the only candidate in the race with a proven record fighting for our mineral industries, and defending women’s sports and parental rights," wrote Jones, "which is why she has earned the support of Donald Trump and Harriet Hageman.”

Trump endorsed Degenfelder in January before she entered the race, and doubled down with a 

U.S. House Rep. Harriet Hageman, who’s running for U.S. Senate, has endorsed Degenfelder and campaigned with her in multiple locations.

[{"type":"text","text":"Not Doing That"}]

The Wyoming Republican Party Central Committee broke tradition Monday night and 

One delegate, Weston County GOP Chair Kari Drost, asked the committee to consider endorsing Degenfelder as well, but the committee cast a majority vote to end the process instead.

The Central Committee considered, but voted against, adopting an official position opposing Barlow.

Bien is not doing polling, says a Tuesday email from his campaign associate Cheryl Aguiar. She called his campaign a grassroots effort.

“As someone who taught statistics to graduate students, I would have all sorts of questions on methodology, sample size, randomness, question wording, and other aspects mainly founded in ‘who paid for the poll?’” she said.

The landline and cellphone call poll was taken from 400 likely Republican primary election voters and with a margin of error of 4.9%, according to the Barlow campaign.

The main prompt asks, “If the Republican Primary election for Wyoming Governor were held today, for whom would you vote?”

Respondents could give answers in three categories for each of the four candidates. For example, for Barlow they could choose “Definitely Barlow,” “Probably Barlow,” or “Lean Barlow.”

[{"type":"text","text":"They could also choose different variations of undecided.  "}]

“Since we don't have the poll's methodology, I would say that this poll is obviously being released by a campaign, so we would advise voters to evaluate it accordingly,” wrote Aguiar. “Our campaign is more interested in what we're hearing from Wyoming  citizens at town halls and community events across the state.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Aguiar said campaigns release internal polling “to tell a story.”"}]

“We respect that. Our campaign is focused, though, on earning votes, not headlines,” wrote Aguiar, adding that no one appears to have gathered 50% of voters and the race has room for “a lot of movement.”

A group called Women For Responsible Government Action has run multiple attack ads against Barlow, and favorable ads supporting Degenfelder in recent weeks.

This group bears a similar name to one linked to Hageman’s campaign for U.S. Senate, “Women for Responsible Government PAC.”

But the group launching TV ads against Barlow is a 501(c)4 run by Hageman’s allies, not Hageman, according to a Thursday text message from Hageman’s campaign advisor Tim Murtaugh.

Murtaugh said Hageman does not control the TV-ad-buying group, but it “often aligns with her views, including protecting Wyoming’s children from permanent genital mutilation and preventing coercive gender identity education for kindergarteners.”

Jones said Thursday on Degenfelder’s behalf that the superintendent isn’t aligned with either the action group or the PAC funding Hageman’s Senate run.

"Megan is not involved with either organization, and her campaign is not permitted to coordinate with either of them,” wrote Jones. “She is focused on her own campaign and her positive message of making Wyoming more affordable, growing our legacy industries and protecting Wyoming values."

The issue group has run ads touting Degenfelder as a “strong leader” who has stood with Trump, fought for school choice, getting “pornography out of our libraries” and keeping men out of girls’ sports.

Degenfelder has not worked as a legislator and has passed no laws toward those goals. She has backed legislation toward those ends, however. 

Soon after she became superintendent she 

 sexually-explicit books out of school libraries. That issue had 

The attack ads lend credibility to Barlow’s favorable poll results, longtime politico and former Assistant Interior Secretary Rob Wallace told Cowboy State Daily in a Tuesday phone interview.

“The fact that Eric has been attacked so hard the last two-to-three weeks tells me the opposition knows that these poll numbers are valid, or similar,” said Wallace. 

He clarified, saying that with “dark money” or independent groups, people often don’t know who’s behind them.

Wallace also said it wouldn’t serve Barlow to dispatch bad poll numbers at this phase of the race.

[{"type":"text","text":"Barlow emphasized the ads and the money behind some of them as well."}]

“Eric Barlow is winning this race and pulling away while taking five times more in hostile media spending than any other candidate,” claims a Tuesday statement by his campaign.

The statement says Barlow’s campaign team has spent $80,688 on radio and TV ads – about $10,200 more than Degenfelder.

But Women for Responsible Government Action has spent $202,265 and Wyoming’s Turn PAC has spent $149,815 on TV, cable and satellite messaging either backing Degenfelder or opposing Barlow, the statement says.

“The outside groups are blanketing every media market with lies about Eric Barlow’s record reaching Wyoming, Denver, Salt Lake, Idaho Falls, and Rapid City cable zones,” the statement says, “while Barlow has held a disciplined broadcast and radio footprint.”

The statement asserts that “out-of-state dark money is not moving the race; it is hurting Degenfelder and hardening support in Barlow's favor.”

[{"type":"text","text":"What He Actually Voted For"}]

One of the issue group’s ads claims that Barlow voted to allow sexual orientation and gender identity to be taught to kindergarteners and to allow sex change procedures “to be done on kids.”

[{"type":"text","text":"The record tells a different story."}]

Barlow voted against the 2023 Senate File 111, which would have criminalized parents and doctors for their roles in transitioning children’s genders medically.

, calling the bill’s definitions ill suited for its purpose.

Barlow had nothing but praise for the 2023 bill Chloe’s Law, however, and voted in favor of it. The bill sought to strip violating medical professionals of their licenses.

[{"type":"text","text":"“This bill I find to be very precise,” said Barlow at the time."}]

The House Appropriations Committee crippled Chloe’s Law that year, and it didn’t make House debate, after the Senate voted 26-5 in its favor. But a later version of it became law in 2024 — with Barlow voting aye once again.

"I absolutely believe minors need to be protected form physically altering surgeries, period," Barlow said Tuesday. He noted that the bill has exemptions allowing treatments for kids with intersex designations or conditions, and puberty blockers for kids with precocious puberty. 

Barlow had, as the ad notes in a subtext, voted against the 2023 

. It sought to ban teaching of gender ideology to public-school kids in grades through kindergarten through third grade.

But Barlow voted in favor of that bill’s 2024 successor, 

The sequel legislation bans schools from teaching sexual orientation or gender identity without prior permission, and compels schools to notify parents if their children experience psychological changes, which may include a newly-voiced transgender identity. 

He told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that the 2024 bill was simply written better. 

"I read the bills, right," said Barlow. "Read the bills. Not just who it protects but how it protects them."

The 2024 bill was "a much stronger bill and much more protective of Wyoming kids, which they deserve," he said. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Not Surprised At All"}]

Blake hasn’t built the name recognition of the other three candidates and in a Tuesday phone call, and said he was unsurprised to find his name left out of the Barlow campaign’s announcement.

Blake is running as a “purple” Republican, and said he’d love to keep Wyoming as it is. He cast himself as pragmatic.

“I think a poll can say whatever you want it to say,” said Blake. “With that being said, it wouldn’t surprise me if Eric is in the lead. He’s a damn good guy.”

Eric barlow 7 21 26

<title>Barlow Campaign Releases Poll Claiming Big Lead Over Degenfelder And Bien | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The Eric Barlow gubernatorial campaign released an internal poll Tuesday showing a significant lead over both Megan Degenfelder and Brent Bien. According to his internal polling numbers, 42% of voters support Barlow while Degenfelder is at 19% and Bien at 14%.

Barlow Campaign Releases Poll Claiming Big Lead Over Degenfelder And Bien

Heinz mark

Mark Heinz

Outdoors

Wildlife

A 6-year-old German shepherd named Mia was rudely interrupted while trying to do her business during a quick break from a road trip with her owners as tourists in Yellowstone National Park pulled over to gawk at her, apparently thinking she was a bear.

At least six vehicles full of tourists stopped for roughly five minutes to look at Mia in a "lightly wooded area

 and threaten to cause a bear jam, Arizona resident Lulu Skladanowski told Cowboy State Daily.

Her husband, Victor, said he was willing to cut the tourists some slack. Given Mia's location and the light filtering through the trees at the time, he can see how they mistook his dog for a bear.

"She looked very much like a small bear. She looks bigger than she is, and she's already a pretty big dog," he told Cowboy State Daily.

Mia is a purebred German shepherd with a long, dark-colored coat and weighs about 95 pounds, Lulu said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Quick Break Becomes 'Bear Jam'"}]

The Skladanowskis were on their way home from a weekslong road trip in their Sprinter van that included driving all the way to Alaska.

Early on July 12 in Yellowstone, they were looking for a place to pull over, make some breakfast and give Mia a chance to get out and stretch her legs.

They found the perfect spot — a small pullout with no other vehicles in it, Lulu said.

Dogs must remain on leashes or tethers in Yellowstone, so Lulu took Mia to a small stand of trees near the van and tethered her to one of the trees.

"She had the urge to poop," and proceeded to do so while Lulu returned to the van.

"Pretty soon, cars are stopping along the road, as if people were trying to see something in the trees," Lulu said.

At first, she and Victor were perplexed as to what the tourists could be pulling over to see. Had some wild animal strolled up to their van, she wondered?

Then she realized her dog was still outside and started to become alarmed until, in the next instant, she realized Mia was the star of the show.

"There was Mia, outside, pooping, and they were all looking in her direction," Lulu said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"'When Do Deer Turn Into Elk?'"}]

Retired park ranger Greg Jackson laughed when he heard Mia's story.

He told Cowboy State Daily that he'd heard some strange stories during his career, but nothing like a pooping German shepherd being mistaken for a bear and causing a jam.

"I don't think I've got one (story) of people mistaking a dog for anything else," Jackson said.

Tourists driving through Yellowstone thought they had spotted a bear, so they stopped their cars to look at it. They were disappointed to learn it was only a pooping German shepherd. "She looked very much like a small bear,” said the dog’s owner.

Daily Smile: Thursday, June 15, 2023

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