Local Business · Lincoln County
Kemmerer Operations is preparing to close its coal operations in South Lincoln County, Wyoming by 2029. The mine employs approximately 150 people and provides an estimated tax base of just over $6 million for Lincoln County. Lincoln County Commissioner Mel Shumway addressed the closure Monday morning, calling it "extremely disheartening" and a significant hit to the local economy. The mine also supplies coal to trona mining operations in southwest Wyoming. Shumway noted that earlier legislative measures funding studies for expanded production remain ready to implement, and there has been talk of potential new owners, though nothing has been finalized.
Crime · Thayne, WY
Miles Lamar Smith of Houston, Texas was sentenced October 13 in Lincoln County District Court to five to eight years in prison for Felony Conspiracy to Commit Theft related to the February 2, 2025 ATM burglary at the Bank of Star Valley Thayne Branch. He was ordered to pay $12,105 in restitution to the bank and $753 to Suloff's Towing. Smith's sentencing completed the case following matching sentences given to Billy Chavis and Demarcus Thomas in December 2025. The three men reportedly used a stolen Ford F-250 connected by tow hooks and a chain to rip cash from the ATM; a second stolen truck was later found stuck in snow near a church.
Community News · Lincoln County
The Middle Ridge Habitat Restoration Project is underway late in October across a 21,000-acre area in the Greys River region of Lincoln County, Wyoming. The multi-phase effort involves the Greys River Forest Collaborative, Star Valley Conservation District, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Bridger-Teton National Forest to improve habitat for mule deer, elk, and moose while reducing wildfire risk through small timber harvests. The initial phase targets up to 400 acres of aspen with heavy conifer cover in the Hot Foot Creek drainage and nearby areas, with up to 2,800 acres treated over several years. The project overlaps the designated Sublette Mule Deer Migration Corridor and is funded through a state grant supported by matching funds from multiple partners.
Community brief · Lincoln County
The Star Valley High School cross country teams competed at the Wyoming Cross-Country State Championships in Cheyenne at Little America, with the boys finishing third and the girls sixth in the 4A classification. Caleb Crowther led the Braves with a 13th-place finish (16:51.39), while Kellsie Dunne paced the Lady Braves in 12th (19:32.06). Sheridan won the boys team title and Laramie claimed the girls championship. Coach Ty Draney noted the…
