Unorthodox Christianity: One Person's Truth...

By Carol Harper

I've been bombarded by folks on both sides of the religious/spiritual spectrums...tribal and Christian...on the Foundations for Nations controversy going on in my tribe right now, and there was a particular comment exchange between a friend of mine on County 10. Rather than continue it on their platform, I thought I would do it here.

My friend's comment: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and the days to come. Never forget we needed a Savior. No man comes to the Father except through Jesus. Where have we missed this basic truth? If it's not Christ centered, then it's idolatry, plain and simple. Native America doesn't get their own God-nobody gets to build their own path. How hard is that to understand?

My response: Quick history lesson: America is stolen land. Genocide of the Native peoples happened. Many Christians were the worst perpetrators. I know it's something a lot of folks don't want to be reminded of, but it happened. You can't change history. You cross over onto tribal lands? You are a GUEST of a sovereign nation. I agree with you about finding out if a church is truly Christ-centered, but even those who call themselves Christians have a difficult time with that. What Jesus? The Jesus that white supremeists use to burn crosses and hang people? The Jesus that calls Native people savages? The Jesus that turns into a corporate businessman? The Jesus that does a bait and switch? Seems to me Christianity has enough problems of its own to deal with before trying to tell others what to do and how to believe.

Systematic Belief vs. Faith

As children, we are programmed to believe what we are taught by our parents and if you go to church, that which is spoken at the pulpit. Most know my story about being adopted and raised in the LDS church. As a child, my family was very good at taking me out on the reservation to meet and visit with my family, but there came a time where they didn't want me to be confused, so the visits became few and far between.

In 1996, I left the LDS church. It was devastating. Over time, as I discovered the truth (that I had been worshipping an entirely different Jesus), I found myself in a state of grief for several years. It was as if everything I had ever known about anything was stripped from me. I went through shock, denial, rationalization, anger, deep depression...and finally acceptance. My marriage fell apart, my children were confused. Why did God do this to me? Do I curse God and just die this spiritual death?

The latter wasn't an option for me, so I began a study and exploration of world religions. I started with Zen Buddhism and went from there. I explored Hinduism, Islam...even Wiccan. I took a college course on the history of Christianity and its denominational evolution. I read the Bible with fresh eyes. I replaced my grief with a desire to learn and understand. I visited other churches, even became a music director for a few of them. And at the same time, there were certain 'freedoms' that I had never experienced before. I tasted wine, beer, and coffee for the very first time. My circles of friends changed; relationships changed. In a nutshell, let's just say that wisdom is gained over the passage of time.

Faith and Trust go hand in hand

When I came back home here to Riverton, I had finished a 35-year long career as a music director, and with it, my church days ended. Not entirely (I'll visit a church from time to time), and not my relationship with God...but the church as an institution of systematic belief. Eventually, I learned (sometimes the hard way) that living a life of Faith, though downright scary in and of itself, has greatly benefited my soul. The sun rises and sets, and I'm grateful that God gives me another day of life.

I wouldn't wish the grief of leaving a church or religion on anyone. It was a horrible experience. Finding out the truth about the LDS church took a deprogramming process that came with great sorrow. It has taken a very long time to learn discernment, how to trust anyone or anything again. I still have problems with it, because several times I've been too trusting and naive when it comes to wolves in sheep's clothing. But in retrospect, I've also learned that God has had to give me a good ass-kicking once in a while to get me on the path that is according to His will and not my own.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3: 5-6

As a believer in Jesus, I pretty much stick to the Gospels. What did Jesus say about it? What did Jesus do about it? There are so many stories and parables He taught...simple, yet powerful. And yes, I know; there those who like to debunk the Bible. Even Christians use and abuse it. But sandwiched in between the Old Testament and the New is the story of a Man who saw a world on the path of destruction and brought Light.

So what did that world do, in true human style? Crucified him. Started a religion. Continued the division, wars, and battles, but this time, we have a banner to wave, the supreme idol to worship, lands and people to conquer and kill in his name, opportunities to control, churches and temples to build, sermons to write, scriptures to interpret and politically twist; movies, videos, and reels to produce, stocks in the marketplace...

Then Jesus went into the temple of God

and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple,

and overturned the tables of the money changers

and the seats of those who sold doves.

And He said to them, "It is written:

'My house shall be called a house of prayer,

but you have made it a den of thieves.'"

Matthew 21:12-13

My tribe has a Lodge of prayer and fasting, for tribal members only. There are also believers in Christ who attend Sundance. Prayer is direct communication, a very deep, personal, sacred time with your Creator, worshipping in spirit and in truth. Earth to Sky. Sound familiar? God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. How you do that is none of anyone else's business. It is your spirit communing with The Great Spirit.

So who is anyone to judge and say: "You're doing it wrong"? That's what the LDS church did to me. I was programmed to believe that theirs is the one true church on the face of the earth, and that you have to believe in all of their prophets, and that the Book of Mormon (which is a false history of Native Americans) is true scripture from God. Sign the dotted line. Terms and conditions apply. Pay ten percent of your income. There are good people who have been very misled since 1820 when Joseph Smith had his "vision" where two gods/personages appeared to him (which is polytheism, by the way). One man's truth is another man's lie.

Anything can be an addiction, including religion or system of belief. Alcohol might make you 'feel better' short term, but the effects on your mind and body? Poison. You have doctors playing God with prescription drugs and medications with small print side effect disclaimers, some of which include death (um, death is not a side effect). There's a big difference between drugs and true medicine. We've had pastors, priests, and kings playing God, speaking for God, prideful in thinking they know the mind of God, doing the will of God and the work of Jesus. Again, which Jesus are you referring to?

Some might think I'm being disrespectful, calling out the LDS church, comparing it to the situation now with Foundations for Nations. No, it's simply telling the truth. I see what's going on in my tribe now, and there are even tribal members who have sneered and mocked me and tell me that I'm not a "true Arapaho"...after all, what does she know, she's a half-breed. (Wait, isn't that disrespectful to say as well?) But I understand why they'd say that; many still don't know me. If they did, they'd know that I only say these things because I care. All they know is that they're hurt and angry...the same way I felt when I discovered the truth. And the truth hurts! But sometimes it might take that 'ass-kicking' that is needed these days...to look up from our screens, break the gossip circles, open our eyes, and be truly aware of all the narratives we're being fed. A little knowledge and a little humility would do us all some good.

I just think that, maybe it's time to get back to the basics with our child-like faith. That is why I love Jesus' simple stories and parables. There's a reason why He is called the Light of the World. That is why I love the stories I've been told by the Storytellers and Elders of our tribe. It is good medicine for my soul, and I still have so much to learn from them. Love, truth, and wisdom rings true with ALL tribes and peoples of the world. Love God, love your neighbors, even love your enemies. We haven't even learned how to love each other! So what business do any of us have, lecturing or casting stones about what is or isn't? If you don't have love, you have nothing. Nothing. No matter the religion or your beliefs, they are empty if you don't have love. Maybe it's time for some monumental, paradoxical do-overs.

I have a dear, wise friend who had helped me through my transition moving from Nashville back to California. She said: "Make a plan. Stick to the plan. Do not deviate from the plan." The journey through Life is yours. Your own body is a temple. The Creator has always had a plan for each of us, since the day we were born, a path for each of us to walk. Who will we listen to? There is so much hypocrisy, so many distractions, so many blind guides and white lies, so much confusion...it shouldn't be unconscionable for anyone to question words spoken from any platform or pulpit.

God is the Creator of the entire Universe. The world is changing at such a rapid pace. Lies uncovered, truths discovered. Lamps are being trimmed (Matthew 25: 1-13), the stage is being set. Keep watch and continue to pray, whenever and however you choose. Do it in spirit and in truth.

Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."

James 1:19

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ."

Philippians 1:9-10

"Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."

Matthew 24:4-8

"We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children."

Crazy Horse

"The white man did not kill my son. Whiskey killed him."

Chief Washakie

"You must not get drunk; it is a great sin...But you must not drink one drop of whiskey. It is the drink of the Evil Spirit. It was not made by me, but by the Americans. It is poison. It makes you sick. It burns your insides."

Tenskawatawa, brother of Tecumseh

"O my children! my poor children!

Listen to the words of wisdom,

Listen to the words of warning,

From the lips of the Great Spirit,

From the Master of Life, who made you!

"I have given you lands to hunt in,

I have given you streams to fish in,

I have given you bear and bison,

I have given you roe and reindeer,

I have given you brant and beaver,

Filled the marshes full of wild-fowl,

Filled the rivers full of fishes:

Why then are you not contented?

Why then will you hunt each other?

"I am weary of your quarrels,

Weary of your wars and bloodshed,

Weary of your prayers for vengeance,

Of your wranglings and dissensions;

All your strength is in your union,

All your danger is in discord;

Therefore be at peace henceforward,

And as brothers live together. 

The Song of Hiawatha

History Lessons: Time Has No Speed Limits, A Father's Day Tribute

By Carol Harper

I have many cherished memories of my father, Charles Starks. He turns 90 this year, and what a life well lived! As I look back on my own timeline, I've come to realize that what Dad has taught me about life and the living of it came through talent, hard work, and enjoying the little things that could be missed if you aren't actually looking for them.

My own kids and I have had conversations of what it was like to be raised in the Generation X era, but I believe it's better to understand how our parents were raised in their time. My parents were born in 1936, during the Depression era, and my dad grew up out in the Pavillion prairie in tar-paper shacks with outhouses. Can you imagine how cold that would be in the Wyoming winters? Dad told me that as kids, his brothers and sisters would gather around the stove with their blankets open, get them reallly hot, then run to their beds and wrap themselves tightly to hold the heat in. He was a farm kid, and told me he had to get up very early in the morning, before the sun rose, to milk the cows and work. Both of my parents taught me that there was a time to work and a time to play. I carry those words with me to this day. Depression era kids really knew what it was like to do hard work to survive...pretty applicable to this very day!

And Dad worked very hard for our family as one of the most sought-after welders in Wyoming, certified in a variety of welds...which meant he was in demand and was away from the family a lot, traveling all over the state. It also meant that time with him was very precious. As a young child, I really didn't have a have a concept of time, so in hindsight, I would describe it like having a father in the military, just  randomly "deployed" to remote areas like Gas Hills or Lysite (he also told me he was a part of the crews that blew out the tunnels in the Wind River Canyon). I'm proud to know that the work my dad did is a part of Wyoming's stuctural history, but my own favorite memories were when would come home covered in and smelling like dirt and oil...and I would run and jump into his arms anyway. I didn't care. Dad was home, and that's all that mattered.

Speaking of work, I wrote a little bit about how my mother was instrumental in my music life in my Do It Better writing, but my father was the one out working hard to not only provide for our family, but to pay for my lessons, tuitions, books and eventually a baby grand piano. I'd be up at 5:30 AM to practice for a couple hours before breakfast, and when I was done, there was big breakfast on the table, most of the time fixed by my dad (to this day, his pancakes are second to none. No one makes pancakes like my dad. And I mean, no one.)

I felt special when Dad could take me to an oil rig out in the middle of nowhere. One memory stands out where I was dressed up in my little cream-colored dress with pastel flowers on the hem, white frilly socks, and shiny black patent leather shoes. I sat in the truck, and had coloring books, crossword puzzles and paper to draw on. I'd listen to old school country music on the AM radio and watch the traveling block on the rig go up and down until I fell asleep. It was usually dusk by the time he was done, and we'd go back home, country music still playing on the radio. I was able to experience my Dad's work day at a very young age.

I don't know if any of the locals remember the ornamental fence he built around the property, and a very intricately designed gate. We always had a beautiful yard and a huge garden every year, and dad was always out prepping it it all, surveying it often, working on the sprinkler systems, etc. He would create ornamental spiral stairways (those were popular in the 70s), and it seemed like he would always be on-call to help people, even during the holidays...fences, cattle guards, trailer hitches. Amazing. Here's a man that worked so hard out in the field, and then came home...and did more work!

But when we played, we played hard. We'd take the boat out to Ocean or Boysen lakes and waterski, go fishing and have picnics in the mountains, take road trips and stop at every historical marker and learn about the places in Wyoming. We'd visit Devil's Tower, Independence Rock, Castle Gardens...but the thing my dad always wanted to do was stop in Farson for ice cream, or in Shoshoni for their famous malts. "I want some ice cream at the ice cream store..." and he'd turn the car into parking lot, sometimes even against my mom's will (but hey, my brother and I never complained)! I love how his spontaneous inner child shone through at random moments. 

And speaking of driving? (Okay, Dad, I have to say it)...not the best driver. Remember, he was a farm kid. My mom would constantly get on him for having one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake. He would be driving along and then suddenly slow down, sometimes to a crawl...and take his eyes off the road. My mom would shriek, "Keep your eyes on the road!" We'd always wonder why he'd do that, but my mom said that he was "looking at the crops". Or he'd speed up at random times, with little or no regard for speed limit signs. My dad and I once took a trip up to Greybull (this was just a few years ago), and he actually got stopped by a cop out of Worland for 'speeding' in a 45. It was both embarrassing and entertaining to watch the cop approach my dad's rolled down window, and saw who was driving. "Do you know what the speed limit is here?"  I was smiling and thinking, "Um no. Here, meet my Dad." 

Talk about distracted driving! In his defense, though...my dad always had a deep appreciation for Wyoming's beautiful landscapes and scenery, the mountains, the sunrises and sunsets. Sometimes we'd stop and take a little hike to view a hill of wildflowers, or he'd pick a strand or two of sagebrush, rub it with his fingers and say, "Smell!"  Sights, colors, and the sounds of nature. I remember as a kid once, that he was out on a job for a very long time, and sent me a postcard with a photo of a Meadowlark on it (not the car, lol), and explained that it was Wyoming's state bird. I love the sound of meadowlarks to this day. I've learned that it's more about the journey rather than the hurried trip to get from point A to point B and back again, and to remember it as a metaphor to living my life. It's the little things, the details, that we might miss along the way.

I'm one of the the blessed who can say that my father is a good man. Time has no speed limits, and everything is in constant motion. Many times I think that we go way too fast down all of these interstate highways of supposed "progress" that we forget to slow down for the details of Life. Sometimes I get distracted by all of the work, worries, and problems I face, and forget to play and play hard. Sometimes I get so focused in on my own time and need to remember God's Time and places in the grand scheme of things. What a beautiful world God has created for us to enjoy, and Wyoming is the best place to experience it.

Happy Father's Day, Dad! I'm glad I came home to God's country.

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

For the wonder of each hour

of the day and of the night,

hill and vale and tree and flower,

sun and moon and stars of light.

For the joy of human love,

brother, sister, parent, child,

friends on earth, and friends above,

for all gentle thoughts and mild.

For Yourself, best gift divine,

To the world so freely given,

Agent of God's grand design:

Peace on earth and joy in heaven.

Christ, our Lord, to you we raise

This, our hymn of grateful praise.

Taxes, Timelines, and Transparency: The 3/4-Cent Sales Tax

By Carol Harper

I recently made several lenghty comments on a friend's Facebook post regarding their opposition to the 3/4-cent sales tax. The heading on the post was capitalized, surrounded by emojis, reading: "COMMUNITY SAFETY SHOULD NOT COVER AIRLINE DEFICITS AND POLITICAL RAISES. VOTE NO ON THE 3/4% SALES TAX."

Folks can get sucked into anything on social media. Everyone can have their opinions and biases, often to the point of torches and pitchforks. But today, I am writing this because there has been a lot of misguidance and misunderstanding as to the reason why this 3/4-cent sales tax is on the ballot.

This is for informational and educational purposes; I'm not going to tell you how to vote. But it is apparent that folks need to get an understanding of what has been happening for the past nine months that got us here.

The first thing that first responders do is: Assess the scene. So kinda consider me in the role of  "dispatcher" in my attempt to help you get that understanding.

(Please read this in its entirety, I put a lot of work into this. LOL)

_____________

September 2025

• JCFKS is formed, with the first meeting held in the training room of the Riverton ambulance station. From there, the committee meets weekly.

• An email group is formed by FCAG Administrator Tim Nicols. Includes all mayors of FCAG, commissioners, public leaders, local and regional media, the communities, and all interested parties, with agendas and minutes, and a Zoom link is created for all meetings, which are public and welcomes public comment.

• Members of the committee are invited to do ride-alongs with EMS providers to understand day-to-day operations.

• Members and advisory sub-committee collect information and data for all three services, starting with the ambulance service, since it is the most critical and the contract between the County and Priority Ambulance ends June 30, 2026.

• JCFKS Chairperson Mick Pryor and other members of JCFKS attend the public meeting regarding the Rural Health Transformation Act in Wyoming in Lander. Committee also consults with other county and regional EMS service providers in the state for sustainable models.

November 2025

• Recommendation report delivered by JCFKS to FCAG by their November deadline. The funding alternatives were presented.

• FCAG moves that the JCFKS move forward in researching the funding alternatives. JCFKS continues their research and data collection.

Challenges:

• The State of Wyoming does not recognize EMS as an essential service, putting the burden upon the people and their local governments.

• Data provided from the County is outdated by 10 years (2016).

• Important and relevant information and documents are withheld from the County and were not accessible to the JCFKS to make accurate evaluations and estimations as to costs.

• Commissioner Thomas is absent to meetings and walks away from FCAG. Commissioner Jones replaces Thomas.

• No transparency by the County as to whether the contract with Priority will be renewed, or the ambulance service would be put out for RFP (deadline June 30, 2026)

• One member of the JCFKS took up the offer to do ride-alongs with the EMS crews.

January-May 2026

JCFKS recognizes that, in order to proceed with one of the alternatives (a sales tax), there is a legal process required and to be followed in order to get an initiative on the August ballot. Deadlines for the committee were established; resolutions were presented by the JCFKS to the county, municipalities of FCAG, as well as the Intertribal Council. A majority of FCAG municipalities passed the resolution. A PAC was formed.

March 2026

The Regional Ambulance Service Evaluation Committee is formed as a partnering committee with the JCFKS. How the ambulance service will be funded continues to be the top priority, whether or not the ¾-cent sales tax passes.

Current Challenges:

• As the June 30 contract deadline draws near, Commissioner Mike Jones is largely absent from the RASEC meetings. The County Commission is still not transparent about negotiations and fate of the ambulance service. No agreement to date.

• The RASEC is not led by current EMS leadership/providers, but by the Shoshoni Chief of Police, creating (in my opinion) a conflict of interest. Note: Shoshoni had purchased their own BLS (Basic Life Saving) ambulance and recently seceded from the ¾ cent sales tax, with Dubois doing the same. However, if the tax passes, their municipalities will still get the funding.)

• RASEC Chairperson hinders the progress of the JCFKS under FCAG at the last meeting, which allows the County to delay would-be progress that was initiated back in September. (NOTE: The other option on the table is to pursue the possibilities of getting EMS back as a county-run service. This is currently under rigorous review; however, solutions for a solid, sustainable service are nowhere near complete, and could not realistically be implemented or sustainable for an estimated 1.5 to 2 years, given the state of the County’s neglect and depreciation of EMS assets re: ambulances and stations, plus the associated inflationary costs, upkeep, repair, maintenance, etc.)

• The public has been not present for public comment or input. (Some/very few have.) Social media posts explode with opposition to the ¾-cent sales tax based upon opinions. Due to the lack of public interest, participation and understanding of this funding option and the understanding of the role of the JCFKS, false narratives are created and widespread. The PAC is unprepared for the backlash.

• Current “State of the Stations”: In the meantime, morale is very low. The EMS service is severely understaffed during a peak season, and the crews are exhausted. EMS providers aren’t picking up additional shifts, and/or are leaving to take better paying jobs elsewhere, either in or out of state. There are community events (rodeos, motocross events, fairs, festivals) and a heightened wildfire season that additionally burdens the crews to be on standby.

Summary/Commentary:

When the time of need arrives, the time for preparation has passed. FCAG had the foresight to act upon the economic needs of three key services back in August/September. Knowing that Wyoming doesn’t recognize EMS as an essential service, but that their constituents do…and knowing that the contract between the County and Priority expires on June 30th, FCAG made the ambulance service the top priority. As you can clearly see, the 3/4 -cent sales tax was the only option due to the urgency of the situation, and this has been continually reflected in their decision-making processes.

So to ask: "Where did the money go? at this point, now? Too late. The money is not there; that question was already asked! The County Commissioners should have been transparent with the public from the very beginning and for the past 10 years as to how our EMS services are run under a corporate entity, and every time the service transitioned under a new corporation (these transitions are very difficult on EMS operations and crews). They were not.

So...if you really want to know where the money went? Ask your Commissioners! They’re the ones who put the service out for RFP. They’re the ones making decisions behind closed doors. They’re the ones who are wined and dined by corporate interests (which is illegal, by the way). They’re the ones who don’t do their due diligence and consult with their EMS director, staff, and providers before making those decisions, which is why our EMTs had no choice but to unionize for fair wages (which are still the lowest in the state). There has been no oversight of funds and expenditures, no public or oversight committee keeping the Commissioners accountable. If they were, the JCFKS wouldn’t have had to struggle with cost estimations in order to make sustainability projections.

If you vote against the 3/4 -cent sales tax, the problems won’t disappear. The issues and the impacts remain:

• Uncertainty and/or disappearance of sustainable ambulance services for present and future generations.

• Lack of transparency, foresight, and financial mismanagement by the County Commissioners in funding a critical, life-saving service.

• Lack of interest and investment in maintaining and improving the service (aging ambulances and equipment, competitive wages to attract EMS providers, etc.)

• Lack of public interest, attendance, and input until problems are exacerbated.

• Political obstructionism and grandstanding that divides leaders, city/town/tribal councils and citizens, delaying the inevitable.

If you do vote for the 3/4 -cent sales tax, there will at least be enough funding to get through the challenges and hurdles as we progress towards a sustainable model for the service to get back to being locally owned and operated. As of now, there is nothing, and the County continues to apathetically decide the fate of the service with corporate entities.

This is a passive tax that both businesses and consumers pay into, that even tourists and visitors will pay when they visit our county. But mind you, this isn’t just “free money” to be spent how the County or municipalities please, or to continue to rob Peter to pay Paul. They’re not available for private or start-up businesses to apply for (The half-cent didn’t pass because of this, and this is what got us into this ‘no-vote’ mindset in the first place.)

And I get the opposition. Some folks I've spoken with say that they definitely want the ambulance service and transportation, but not the airport. I also hear folks saying that they’d vote for it if it were just ambulance service. Still more think that transportation needs to get more and the airport less. Believe me, I get it! But remember...the time for public comment and input is over, done...and this isn’t like choosing whether you want Hunts or Heinz ketchup for your hot dog. The reality is that the County Commissioners are choosing for us without any oversight (you will have Heinz ketchup, whether you like it or not).

This sales tax has a sunset date in four years. So if, in four years, you don’t want the airport and transportation, we can just put EMS back on the ballot. OR…maybe we wouldn’t even need to, if FCAG’s JCFKS has successfully assisted us all with a sustainable model for a locally-run service again. Wouldn’t that be nice!

But in the meantime, give your ambulance service a fighting chance! And please! Vote wisely in the upcoming elections when it comes to your County Commissioners and city councils. Vote for those who will be accountable, transparent, and accessible to their constituents. Vote for those who accept oversight for their actions and transactions, not just force their way into the processes mid-stream. Vote for those who will respect and listen to those on the front lines of EMS and actually know how the operations work and what it entails, boots on the ground. Vote for someone who will show up! I have more respect for a leader who might not know the answer(s), but say: “I don’t know, but I will do my best to find out and get back to you”...rather than table it until another meeting, sweep it under the rug, stick their heads in the sand, be asleep at the wheel, ignore the problems and slap bandaids on them…until it becomes a critical issue, and then they bring garden hoses to a wildfire in the form of opinionated rhetoric.

And be rightly informed and educated! Opinions are not facts. If you have concerns, questions, or inquiries, go to a JCFKS meeting at WRTA, or listen in via Zoom on Wednesdays at 12:00 PM. See below. Get added to their email list.

And if you want to “Ask An EMT” email me at: fremontcountyems@gmail.com. Come do a ride-along! Sure, you can have ambulances and stations, but there is no service at all without our providers! Talk to those who know what's going on in the field now, today...because EMS is not the same today as it was yesterday.

Funding critical services like an ambulance service isn't just a problem here in Fremont County. It's a problem all across the nation, so I'll say it again: If you want to know the truth about your community, ask a first responder.

Thank you for reading!

.....

PUBLIC NOTICE OF RECURRING JOINT MEETINGS

JOINT COMMITTEE ON FUNDING KEY SERVICES AND

REGIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICE EVALUATION COMMITTEE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Joint Committee on Funding Key Services and the Regional Ambulance

Service Evaluation Committee will hold recurring joint meeting sessions each Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The meetings will be held at the following location:

Wind River Transportation Authority Facility

2554 Airport Road

Riverton, Wyoming 82501

The meetings will also be accessible to the public by virtual means through the attached Zoom link.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87542789880...

These recurring joint meetings will be held each Wednesday unless otherwise canceled or amended by proper

public notice.

This notice is provided in accordance with applicable public meetings requirements and for the purpose of

informing the public of the time, place, and manner in which these meetings will be conducted.

Coffee With A View: We, the Powerful

After the American Revolution, George Washington went home. Then he went back to preside over the Constitutional Convention, became the first U.S. President, resigned from the Continental Army, and then…he went home.

For those who call Wyoming home, our way of Life is either as simple or as complicated as we make it. But leaving a legacy–your stamp on the timeline–isn’t about the business of politics. It is very much about that way of life, and how it is genuinely served and lived.

And Life is in a state of constant motion. The ocean is a perfect example in observation of powerful waves and breakers, turbulent undercurrents, ebbs and flows, silently rising tides with forces that can flow into unyielding rushing rivers..and with over 70% of the planet covered by water, it is a power that is often underestimated.

I think that many were unprepared for Hurricane Trump. Whatever side (or middle) of the political spectrum you’re on, it is not difficult to ascertain that the cause and effects have been beneficial for a few, but devastating for the unprivileged many who are drowning, suffering, dying, or trying to pick up the pieces of a shattered life. Yet, every election year, no matter what the state of disaster, there is a consistent power of its own that reveals itself…

The Power of the Voter.

Once again, as we deal with all the propaganda, sign and billboard pollution, grandstanding, name-dropping, mudslinging, crabs-in-a-barrel mentalities, the barraging social media campaigns of candidates tooting their own horns…the power of the vote still remains in the hands of We the People. And it can be very difficult to swim through the soup, drown out the noise, and try to reach the shore with an educated vote that we hope won’t compromise our lives, liberties, and pursuits of happiness. You have to choose the right people to do the right things for the right reasons.

But who are the right people? What are the right things? The election year circus is on the road, and my approach this year is to act as my own ‘ring leader’ and ask myself: What is my criteria for a candidate who is vying for my vote?

Here’s my own list; let me know if yours might be similar. These are not typical questions a political panel moderator might ask…it’s more like a job interviewer. But these are things that are important to me as one who holds the power of the vote. (And this is my short list!)

• Do they make statements or promises during campaigns, then excuses once they’re in office…pass the buck and do the blame game? I really don’t know how much more gaslighting this country can take.

• Are they honest, trustworthy, and accountable? Why should I trust them with the keys of the city, the county, the state, the nation? Are they fiscally responsible, or do they play the shell game and rob Peter to pay Paul? Do they steal ideas from others and call them their own? Do they take undue credit? Do they listen to gossip and hearsay? Do they spin the truth?

• Do they manage their time wisely? Do they know the demands of the job? Time management is important; do they meet deadlines? Are they present or absent? Do they account for their time wisely, or create more bottlenecks by dropping the ball because of the lack of preparation? Do they table important issues and let them slip between the cracks, hoping they’ll go away and/or unnoticed? Do they have answers or report their findings at the next meeting, or did they make excuses for lack of due diligence? Do they have any foresight, or just fly by the seat of their pants? Or do they just float along with the status quo?

• Are they transparent? Communication is key. Do they make decisions behind closed doors, then pass edicts and decisions that affect an unaware public? Do they omit important information that the public has a right to know? Can they admit if they’ve made mistakes, and do their best to rectify them…or do they deflect? Does the left hand know what the right hand’s doing?

• Are they accessible to their constituents? Do they manage their communications effectively…answer their phones, return messages, answer emails? Do they follow up?

• Do they pander to their political affiliation? Do their party cohorts, friends, family, colleagues, etc. influence or do the thinking for them? Are they genuinely considerate and listen, or are they distracted elsewhere and can't be bothered? Are they team players, or dismissive of We the People? Do they objectively base their thoughts and decisions on facts or mere opinion?

• Are they above the law? Do they think the law doesn’t apply to them, and hire attorneys and fixers to save face? Contrary to this nation's declining state of integrity…character, morals and values still matter to me. A lot.

• Are they hypocritical? Do they practice what they preach? Are they two-faced? Matthew 23 says it all. Look it up.

• Are they wise? You can be intelligent, but not very smart. You can also be smart, but not very intelligent. With experience comes wisdom, and with that comes an understanding about the people you serve. Do they consult with those who might be more wise and experienced?

• For the re-elected: Are they resting on their laurels? If they are, maybe it’s time for them to go home.

• Are they sober-minded? Effects of alcohol on the brain include: Impaired judgement and decision-making, slow reaction time, poor coordination and balance, memory problems, and mood changes. Even if one might say they’re moderate or a “social drinker” it doesn’t take away from the lasting effects that alcohol has on critical thinking skills. I had friends that would joke around about being “functional” alcoholics. Really. Functional? Does that include the hangover, associated headaches, and lack of motivation the next day? I remember my drinking days, and quite honestly, I would’ve called myself anything but functional!

I know, this is quite a wish list, and believe me, I’m not looking for superhumans here. But I’ll tell you right now, I would have more respect for our elected officials, regardless of political affiliation, if I knew that these were the qualities they hold.

And, at the same time, there is a responsibility that We the People have in order to hold our leaders accountable, long after the elections are over:

• Can we accept the outcome of the elections and move forward, not back?

• Do we show up at city council or commissioner meetings? Do we show up to the relevant committee/sub-committee meetings? If the public isn’t present to comment for the record, what is it we expect?

• Do we really understand the issues, and call out our elected officials if they are doing something untowards? Do we take the time to communicate with them, or write letters to the editor?

• Are we a part of the problems, or the solutions?

If we aren’t doing our due diligence, we have no room to talk when the rains come, streams rise, and winds blow (Matthew 7: 24-27) We do more damage playing armchair politics in front of our glowing screens, pointing fingers, complaining, throwing out misguided opinions, thinking we’re experts and authority on any given subject, splashing misinformation in the mudpuddles of social media.

What kind of legacy will your candidates leave? Once in office, our leaders need the ability to take the helm and steer, even through uncharted waters and storms that lie ahead. Not an easy job! Help them to be better, do better. Hold them accountable, so when they go home at the end of the day...or the end of their term(s)...they can know that they were that right person who did the right things for the right reasons for the People who cared enough to believe they could.

"Elections belong to the people. It's their decision.

If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds,

then they will just have to sit on their blisters."

- Abraham Lincoln