How often do events EXCEED your expectations?  Rarely for me.  Really I’m happy if it approaches my expectation.  So here come’s Monday’s solar eclipse…let me step back a few steps to set it up first.

We were in Texas on business, my wife’s organization, with a conference in San Antonio.  Since Monday was my birthday, we extended our stay and joined friends at their home in Granbury TX on Sunday.  The Monday plan was for R&R and a Rangers vs Astros game in Arlington (my first MLB game in a dome BTW…pretty dang cool).

Low and behold the universe had a solar eclipse planned with the path passing directly over Granbury TX on Monday April 8th.  Initially, when planning the trip, the only indicator we had that something was going on was the cost of hotel rooms that weekend.  Who knew!?!

We picked up our eclipse viewing glasses (do we put a lot of faith in those flimsy things or what?) on the way to Granbury Sunday.  Monday we parked ourselves in lawn chairs a little after noon local time.  We had mostly cloudy skies and I thought “bummer”.  But then!  The clouds began to thin as the moon’s shadow took it’s first bites out of El Sol. That’s when the construction project down the street ceased operations.  Virtually all vehicle traffic stopped, pulled over to watch.  It was eerily quiet. The color of our surroundings began to change…hard to describe.

Then it rapidly became dark.  Not pitch black, but dark like an evening with a waning crescent moon. See the pics below.  The birds stopped singing.  The crickets started chirping.  The stars came out!  The only sound was dogs barking and our oohs & ahhs.

I lost track of time, but I think the real darkness lasted about 4 minutes.  Then the moon went on it’s merry way, the sky went back to normal and we spent the next two days talking about it…with everyone!  Some probably didn’t like it and I understand. Imagine pre-historic man or even isolated people/tribes in remote places today witnessing this occurrence!

It was a shared encounter where human beings were not in charge.  I liked that feeling.  All of us in the path experienced it and wanted to talk about it.  I liked that too.  One of the rare times when the actual definition of awesome applies.

Let the debate begin!  Next year the great State of Wyoming will have new license plates.  The silhouette of the great horse Steamboat from Chugwater (C-H-U-G H20) has made it to every Wyoming license plate since 1936.  He’s also on the uniforms of the Wyoming National Guard dating back to World War 1.  The University of Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls proudly display the logo on virtually every uniform and helmet.  Here’s a link to more information, if you’re so inclined to investigate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucking_Horse_and_Rider

The backdrops have changed over the years and it is about to change again.  The first one I was exposed to in the 1970’s (on top below) is  my favorite, primarily because of the Wyoming colors brown & gold.  The new design above is set to launch in 2025, what do you think?  Below are all designs since 1970.  What’s your favorite? I do like the state flag bison logo as the backdrop of the new plate.

For those that don’t know, that first number is the county number… 3 is Sheridan County (my favorite ;).  Anywhere in the US or Canada that I see a Wyoming plate, I lean over to see if I recognize the driver, regardless of the county number.  That’s because there is usually no more than two degrees of separation in Wyoming. “County 8, you from Wheatland? Yeah?  Do you know so & so?  How bout his brother such & such? You bet! Tell him I said howdy “, is usually how it goes.

We’re proud of Steamboat and who, what and where he represents!

When driving in Wyoming you’ll notice there’s this thing that happens on country roads.  It’s a wave, sort of, sometimes and most often, from a complete stranger.  Usually on a dirt road, one finger (the index finger if that digit is intact) lifts off the steering wheel of an approaching vehicle.  It’s like “howdy, I’m on this bumpy a*s road in the middle of nowhere too…good to see ya”!

Now I know this happens in other rural areas of the country too, but there seems to be an unwritten rule, or maybe it’s law (?), in Wyoming.  It is so common it’s to the point that if someone doesn’t “wave”, my next thought is “what’s that guys problem?”.  If I’m distracted and I don’t wave at someone that waved at me, I feel guilty.  Friends visiting, particularly my city slicker friends, will say “you know that guy?”  Then I have to explain the whole one finger salute thing.

It generally happens on unpaved dirt, gravel, mud road.  It does happen on some paved county roads too.  But not well traveled paved roads. And hardly, if ever, on well maintained highways.  Strange huh?  What qualifies as a one finger salute road?

I have a theory.  I think it’s an unspoken recognition that “I see you, I know you’re here”.  I’m saying with my index finger lifted high, “if anything happens to you out here, I got you”.  And when his/her finger goes up they’re saying “yep, me too”.  Honestly…it’s comforting.  I know without one doubt whatsoever, that if I’m broke down on the side of the road, or slide off into the ditch, the next pickup truck down the road will stop and lend a hand.

It’s kind of old fashioned.  It’s neighborly.  I bet folks in covered wagons, horse drawn carriages or on horseback, did the same thing, only slower, longer and with a tip of the cowboy hat included.

Giving back…it’s sound marketing strategy.  Let me ask you this; with things being basically equal between company company A and Company B, including quality, service, pricing, positive testimonials and experience, how do you choose? Now consider that company A is generous, they give back, they care about and participate in some of the same things you and I do!  So…who would you do business with now?

I like working with and for companies that give back, quick to participate, actively involved. Most folks do.  It’s sound marketing strategy sure, but it’s also the right thing to do.  Event sponsorship and charitable contributions are a great way to separate your business from the crowd.  Its also a way to team build, filling the work place with a positive, warm fuzzy atmosphere.  Without it, a lot of wonderful organizations and events would cease to exist.

Imagine how your business is perceived when it’s helping local schools, Veterans organizations, low income families, animal shelters, local theatre, medical research, food banks, etc.? There are so many organizations that need our support and its all positive from the public’s perspective.  All things considered, our capitalist system works best when private business gives back.

Rest in peace Sgt. Nevada Krinkee.  Thank you for your service both as an Army 82nd Airborne Soldier and as a Police Officer for the Sheridan Wyoming Police Dept. Sgt Krinkee is now in the presence of God. He leaves behind a wife and two year old daughter.

Sgt. Krinkee is the first Law Enforcement Officer killed in the line of duty in Sheridan since Undersheriff’s William McPherren was killed Oct. 7th, 1921.

I’m seeing a town grieve.  Sheridan is a close knit community with a great deal of pride.  Pride in our Schools, pride in our western heritage, pride in our history and pride in the natural beauty of our Big Horn Mountains.  We’re also proud of our First Responders, Police, Sheriff’s Dept., EMT’s, Fire & Search and Rescue.  We’re proud of the fact that folks here are, with miniscule exception, law abiding, good citizens.  You can count on Law Enforcement here, they can count on us.

The sad truth is, violence, cruelty and crime can find us anywhere.  Having moved back to Sheridan 4 1/2 years ago from Denver, partly to get away from the lawlessness that has grown more and more prevalent in big cities all over the country.  I had a good friend that was a Captain for the Denver Police Dept. in the Homicide Division.  The stories he told, the scenes that he witnessed were horrific. We Prayed together regularly, both for his sanity and for our community.  Now it’s our turn here, in Sheridan.  We Pray for First Responders to be safe and healthy of mind, body and spirit.

Folks here are stepping up in so many ways, too numerous to list.  Below is a fund to support Sgt. Krinkee’s family if you’re so inclined, thank you.  Sheridan will pay respects on Friday March 1st. The  funeral procession begins at noon at 11th and Main street, head south to Coffeen Ave to Sheridan College’s Golden Dome.  I didn’t know Sgt. Nevada Krinkee, but my heart aches for his family, friends and our town.

I was going to title this “Quill Face” since that does well describe the picture.  But this is more about trust.  The trust between a man and his dog.

Most days Waylon and I get out for a walk/hike between 3 and 5 miles.  If its in town, it’s a walk.  Out of town, it’s a hike…that’s how I see it.  So Saturday’s “hike” was on public access Wy State Trust Land between Sheridan and Ranchester Wyoming, about 5 miles from the Montana border.  Its near the “train station” where the Dutton’s bury the bodies on Yellowstone 😉 It’s where Goose Creek converges with the Tongue River.  It’s quite an extraordinary place.  A beautifully reclaimed area where a coal mining operation operated for decades.  It’s now public open space with hiking trails, fishing ponds, river access and where big game and bird hunting is allowed.  I’m so impressed by the commitment folks here have made to habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation.

Back to the story.  We were hiking, not hunting. BUT, that doesn’t mean we can’t get in a little training and pop up a couple birds…which we did.  Waylon is a flusher, not a pointer.  My last lab Angus, was a pointer.  He would snap to a point when he got close to the scent and would stay still till hunters got in position.  Then I hollered “get the bird”!  Boom, boom, boom. Waylon on the other hand, gets the scent and plows right in…ya gotta be ready.  So when Waylon stopped and “pointed” into a clump of sage brush and tumble weeds I hollered “get the bird”!  Waylon looked at me then back at the brush.  I hollered again. Here’s where the trust comes in. Probably knowing better but trusting me, he says “whatever you say Baggs” and in he goes.  YELP! Out comes Waylon with a very bewildered face full of porcupine quills.

My dogs and I have had run ins with critters before, skunks, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, even a badger once!  But never a porcupine.  Ya don’t wanna mess with a porcupine!  God equipped that animal with an awesome defense mechanism.  The quills are not easy to pull out.  They have barbs at the end that work similar to a fish hook. Waylon and I had an intimate conversation as I performed some field first aid.  I told him I was sorry.  He forgave me of course, but asked me to be more careful, I promised I would.

His face is no worse for wear, no lingering effects.  I took him out the next day to an area I knew was thick with pheasants to get him “back on the horse”, so to speak.  I was relieved that he had no problem poppin up some birds despite his experience the day before.  The moral of the story?  You guessed it.  A dog’s trust (love) is unconditional. 

Working Lands & Public Benefits was the name of last night’s public forum at the Best Western Sheridan Center hosted by Western Landowners Alliance.  It’s clear, private land in Wyoming = working lands.  An exceptional turnout of over 100 ranchers, farmers, landowners, wildlife experts and conservationists assembled to discuss “the Wyoming way” of collaboration between landowners, government and the public. 

Half of our state’s territory is privately owned with between 70 and 80% of the state’s wildlife inhabiting those areas.  It is in the best interest of all to integrate people and natural systems in this new era of land management.  Ranching/farming, ecology and reclamation, it was encouraging to hear local ranchers on the panel describing the projects they, in collaboration with government and science, have undertaken on their properties. We heard and saw some amazing success stories! There was discussion of how the public benefits from these “working lands” with description of the public access to private property through the Sheridan Community Land Trust.

With new folks discovering the beauty and serenity of Wyoming and acquiring property here, it is imperative that they too are informed.  It is important to know as much as possible about big-game and wildlife migration, wetlands and the animals that live there “from mice to moose”!  One great resource is Western Landowners Alliance.  If you’re considering buying acreage in Wyoming, learn the Wyoming way and get to know the WLA at  https://westernlandowners.org/.  

Heres’ some thoughts after hosting an Open House at the 1918 Adair Ave property last Sunday.  First of all the weather was gorgeous for a late January day… sunshine and mid 50’s! That had to help the turnout, at least 10 home shoppers that included families, couples, an agent with clients of his, so the gambit really.  The 11a – 1p showing hours I think was ideal.  We benefited I think from “Church rush”. Folks out and about after Church with family and living space on their minds.

It was interesting to hear some of the conversations between couples and families.  They all had their  priorities, including the kids.  Kitchen space, power, age of furnace, sturdiness of the structure, backyard space, garage size etc..  But what I heard consistently was the “potential” for the property.  Folks imagining what they could do to customize that house to make it their home.  That was cool.  I remember doing that with my wife Deb when we searched for our new home here 4 years ago.  All agreed that it was a very unique property.

I learned from some experienced agents to stay out of the way and not “lurk” over our visitors.  I don’t like that, most people don’t.  I said howdy, offered coffee and a cookie then got out of the way.  I answered questions when asked and had a few conversations about family, football and the weather mostly.  I had the listing information printed so pertinent information about the property were available to take with them if desired.  But otherwise, they knew what their priorities were and gravitated to those areas and I left them alone.

We’ll see how it turns out, likely this week.  I sensed buying signals from at least 3 of those visitors.  Fingers crossed that they’ll put in an offer.  I did what I thought was a healthy level of marketing to promote the open house.  I’m not sure which of those methods was most effective as I did not ask the question “where did you hear about us?”.  Maybe there’s a way to do that without it sounding like an interrogation?  Obviously marketing/advertising is key.  Thanks for indulging me one more time. Look for more thoughts here down the road, take care! John

That’s true in most categories!  However it is especially true in real estate.  Someone asked me “john interest rates are up, it’s the dead of winter, is this the time to buy”.  It may be perfect timing.  The market is loosening up!  Interest rates are coming down and folks that were hanging on to property are now listing.

Now IS a good time to get in early with offers before the typical market surge.  Spring/summer is when you could possibly find yourself in competition with other buyers with higher offers.  Most sellers want to move as quickly as possible.  It’s likely that they have a plan that involves the revenue generated from that property sale.

Have a look at the many listings we have posted here on my website.  See if the home or property that fits your criteria is listed now.  I am at your service.

John

john@c21bhj.com