News and Events

I enjoyed spending lunchtime at the Pine Bluffs Senior Center today, talking with residents about the Sixth Penny Specific Purpose Tax on the August 18 ballot. I was joined by Pine Bluffs Councilwoman Allie Leitza and Antonia Gaona, executive director and county librarian for the Laramie County Library System. Together, we walked through the 14 separate ballot propositions, highlighting the projects that would directly benefit Pine Bluffs and eastern Laramie County. On the ba

With the August 18 primary election approaching, Laramie County voters have a lot to sort through. Fourteen separate Sixth Penny propositions will appear on the ballot, covering infrastructure, public safety, emergency response, utilities, parks and community facilities. Ballot language can tell us the name of a project and how much it will cost. What it cannot always explain in a few lines is why the project is needed, what problem it would solve, or what could happen if not

Riding in the first Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade was a special experience. The families lining the streets, the kids waving, and the neighbors coming together showed why this tradition means so much to our community. It was an honor to celebrate our Western heritage and the incredible volunteers who make the Daddy of ’Em All possible. Thank you to everyone who came out. Happy Frontier Days, and I hope your family makes great memories along the way!

Sue and I started the morning at the Pardners N’ Prosperity Chamber of Commerce brunch before heading out to the first rodeo of the Daddy of ’em All. Cheyenne Frontier Days brings our community together with excitement, patriotism, and rodeo tradition. This year was the grand opening ceremony of the new Morning Star American Indian Village. It was also fun to see the new Chute 9 seating in use for the first time, giving even more people a great view of the action. For 130 yea

Early voting for the 2026 Primary Election begins July 21, and Election Day is Tuesday, August 18. Laramie County voters will have several decisions to make, including the Sixth Penny Specific Purpose Tax propositions. Each proposition will appear separately on the ballot, so voters can consider each project on its own. Wyoming has a closed primary election, meaning Democratic and Republican voters receive ballots for their respective parties. Unaffiliated and minor-party vot

What a wonderful morning in Albin! My day began with the Burns FFA breakfast of pancakes and sausage at the fire station, followed by the Albin Day parade. Volunteers served breakfast, kids rushed to grab candy, and there were horses, flags, and even a few pigs in the parade. There’s something special about small towns and the people who work together to keep these traditions alive. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, took part, and helped make Albin Day such a great event

This article summarizes information presented by Skybox representatives during their public information meeting held at the Laramie County Library on July 9, 2026. Statements attributed to the company reflect what was presented during the meeting and should not be interpreted as findings, endorsements, or official positions of Laramie County or the Laramie County Board of Commissioners. As with any proposal, all information will be evaluated through the formal public review p

Sue and I had a great evening on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Lawrence Anderson Memorial Pie Social in Pine Bluffs. There was a strong community turnout, and it was encouraging to see so many people taking the time to hear directly from candidates for state and local offices. I appreciated the opportunity to listen to several candidates speak and to visit with them afterward. Some key discussion areas included data centers, availability, and election integrity. It was intere

I attended Vantage Data Centers’ open house held on Friday, June 26, 2026. This was an opportunity for the public to gather information about Vantage’s proposed data center project. One thing I thought was particularly well done was the event’s organization. Rather than simply giving a presentation, they set up information stations covering different aspects of the proposed project, making it easier to understand the proposal. Topics included the proposed site location, proje

Albin EMS Saturday, June 6, Sue and I were honored to attend the Albin EMS Fundraiser. What stood out to me is that in larger communities, lifesaving equipment is often taken for granted. Here in Albin, it exists because neighbors step up to support neighbors. This fundraiser is the primary way Albin EMS raises the funds needed to maintain and upgrade the equipment its volunteers rely on when every second counts. Thanks to the generosity of this community, they are better equ

Sue and I attended today’s Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce luncheon, sponsored by the Wyoming Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association shared information about Alzheimer’s awareness and featured its Walk to End Alzheimer’s fundraiser in October. Alzheimer’s disease is near and dear to both my wife's and my hearts. We have both lost loved ones to this terrible disease. Two years ago, my wife lost her dad, and I lost my grandma several years ago.

The quarterly elected officials meeting was held in the Town of Burns, and it was a good opportunity to hear updates from Burns, Albin, Pine Bluffs, Cheyenne, and Laramie County. These meetings are always valuable because they give each community a chance to share what they are working on, what challenges they are facing, and where we can better support one another as elected officials. Burns has several local projects moving forward. The town recently completed drilling its

Had a very good meeting this week with representatives from Vantage Data Centers regarding their proposed project in Laramie County. I appreciated the opportunity to sit down one-on-one for an open, candid discussion about the project, community concerns, infrastructure, workforce needs, water use, and long-term impacts. A couple of the biggest concerns I continue to hear from the public are water usage and the potential impact on power rates. We spent a good amount of time o

I attended the LEADS board meeting today, and one of the biggest topics of discussion was the ongoing debate over data centers and workforce housing projects in our community. One thing that really stood out to me was the extent of the misunderstanding about how these projects are actually reviewed and approved. Whether it’s a data center, workforce housing, annexation, or zoning change, these projects do not just “show up overnight.” There are layers of regulations, public h

I attended the public meeting on May 1st at Afflerbach Elementary regarding the proposed workforce housing project in South Cheyenne. As a Laramie County Commissioner, I am still gathering information and have not made any decisions. This proposal will be presented to the County at a later date. The project, presented by Iron Guard Housing, would be a phased, temporary workforce housing campus with on-site services, private security, and connections to city water and sewer. T

I listened to a recent Wyoming Watch podcast discussing the future of data centers in Cheyenne, and I think it highlighted an important conversation our community needs to keep having. On one side, supporters of data center development pointed to several benefits: infrastructure improvements paid for by developers, new tax revenue, construction jobs, and Cheyenne’s growing role in technology and AI infrastructure. According to Cheyenne LEADS CEO Betsy Hale, the 12 currently o

I attended the Back-A-Kid Breakfast on May 12, hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Wyoming at LCCC—an inspiring reminder of the power of community. A highlight was hearing from 15-year-old Orion Jean, whose Race to Kindness movement has inspired thousands across the country. He was named TIME’s Kid of the Year in 2021 and has led major initiatives, including collecting 500,000+ books, providing 100,000 meals, and launching a campaign to inspire 1 million acts of kind

Last Thursday, May 7th, was a special evening as our family gathered at the Blue Federal Credit Union headquarters for the FFA Awards Banquet. Our granddaughter Haley, along with many other outstanding members of her FFA chapter, was recognized for achievements ranging from strong GPAs to individual accomplishments in FFA-related activities. The Cheyenne Frontier FFA Chapter received recognition at the local, state, and national levels in competitive events, proudly represent

Last Friday, May 8, 2026, I met with representatives from Tallgrass Energy to get an update on the data center and power‑plant project south of town. As always, I went in with the questions many of you have been asking, so I can keep sharing clear, factual information with the community. Water was one of the main topics we discussed. I pressed them on concerns about aquifers, and they confirmed the project will draw its water from the Lance Aquifer — the deep aquifer already

Had the chance to sit in on the Dispatch Awards tonight, and it really puts things back into perspective. You’re reminded that behind every award is a moment when someone relied on a dispatcher during one of the worst days of their life — and a calm voice stepped in to steady the chaos. I’ve worked with dispatch in the past, and I can tell you—these folks are the calm in the middle of chaos. When everything is going sideways, they’re the ones asking the right questions, getti