What a rough month it has been for Wyoming. 

City and county officials wait with bated breath while the higher-ups make decisions “based on our best interest,” cutting funds, developing rules…all while communities hope and pray legislators have heard our cries. 

The tiny town of Byron has been forever rocked from a preventable, mental health tragedy that has left holes in the hearts of all Wyomingites and beyond. 

Our local tragedy involved a trooper’s family where the trooper’s son is now in ICU receiving treatment for severe head trauma.

The Green River Tunnel crash where 10 passenger vehicles and at least 16 commercial vehicles crashed. Each press release indicates an increase in fatalities as the investigation and clean-up continues. 

The small community of Glendo was also hit by tragic events this weekend when a side-by-side slid off the roadway and into the frozen lake. Rescue crews fought Wyoming’s winter weather until it became too dangerous for them to search. Recovery efforts continued Sunday morning and the victims, who succumbed to their injuries, and the vehicle were recovered allowing the families a sense of closure and time to grieve. 

Life happens and when life happens, so does death. We may never really know when our last breath may be. We may not have the opportunity to tell our family we love them or to remind our friends how much they really mean to us. Death happens and the rest of us are left standing here, holding on to all of the things we wish we would have said or done. 

Don’t let another day pass without telling the people in your circle how much they mean. We have all heard that tomorrow isn’t promised and well…it isn’t. Remind those you love they are irreplaceable. Tell them your stories and help them keep memories of you alive. 

It has been a very rough month in Wyoming. Hold your loved ones close. Tell them you love them.