Good morning, Gillette.

Local nonprofits raised over $300K at WyoGives—an event that has grown steadily since 2020 by increasing both funds and participating groups.

Gillette police charged mother Shandi Paquette (born 1982) with two felony child endangerment counts after a caller reported a suspect vehicle near a hotel on July 10 and officers found a makeup bag with suspected meth residue and paraphernalia within reach of her young daughter as she applied makeup; her preliminary hearing is set for July 21.

A Laramie County judge extended his temporary block on Wyoming’s universal school voucher program Tuesday, stopping funds that were set to begin on July 1.

The state filed an appeal on July 17 and will challenge the injunction while plaintiffs argue the program is unconstitutional, affecting over 4,000 families.

At a July 16 meeting, Campbell County School District approved a $249,500 playground set for Little Powder Elementary, a contract with a Gillette photographer for Wright Junior Senior High, and a DEQ agreement to install an air quality monitoring van on Cottonwood Elementary grounds — the district also approved a Spanish book fair at Stocktrail Elementary for Oct. 7—17.

Campbell County School District submitted two grant applications this week to secure funds for career and technical education programs and to build a tiny home at a local high school; the district requested $205,725.51 from the Board of Cooperative Higher Education Services for supplies at its five schools and $25,000 from the Perkins Cutting Edge Grant Program to build the home (at Campbell County or Thunder Basin High School) with planning set to begin in September and construction expected to last 24–36 months.

The Campbell County School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Wednesday night to approve a plan allowing educators to carry concealed weapons under the new state law and to provide gun safes along with necessary training.

The district will work to resolve compensation issues for training that happens outside the school year—efforts that have been in progress since last winter.

Backyard Yard Games Bonanza

9-10 a.m. — Sage Bluffs Park — Free for Braintree students and caregivers — Enjoy a morning of sunshine and classic backyard games with friends and family.