Joint Powers Board elects officers

The Big Horn Basin Nature and Discovery Center Joint Powers Board held election of officers on Jan. 18.

Toddi Darlington was elected to serve as chair. Darlington is a member of the Discovery Center's original committee. She has a love for tourism. While employed as the Chamber of Commerce director she saw a need for stronger tourism infrastructure and a permanent home for the chamber. The Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation was working towards a place to showcase our area heritage and folk art. Seeing a need to combine efforts, the GLF and Chamber of Commerce formed a partnership. Through legislative action the Town of Thermopolis and Hot Springs County formed a Joint Powers Board in 2009.

Darlington began serving on the Joint Powers Board in 2012 and has served as chair since 2015.

Howie Samelson was elected as vice chair. A member of the Joint Powers Board for more than two years, he joined because he feels it's important to try and develop facilities that can serve both residents and visitors, and the Discovery Center has the opportunity to do both and provide opportunities for arts, culture, history and education. He noted it is an educational tool as well as an economic development tool for the community.

Shurie Scheel was elected as treasurer. She joined the board because she wanted to be involved in such an exciting project. The center has been in the works for a while, but with dedication and hard work, it can be brought to fruition.

Raegan Stanley was elected as secretary. Stanley is a speech-language pathologist and has been living in Thermopolis since July of 2016. She loves experiencing the adventure that Wyoming has to offer. She decided to get involved in the board due to her lifelong interests in travel, the outdoors, science, education, and the arts.

The board also humorously named Wes Whipple as sergeant-at-arms. Wes is a blacksmith and suits the role through his folk arts.

For the last ten years Whipple's sole occupation has been as a blacksmith and custom knife maker, a passion he has been practicing for over 31 years. He's interested in practicing and preserving the folk arts of the past, which made everyday life possible in early America. This board is something he believes will help bring about the rediscovery of those crafts to everyone.

The board has hired Kyle Gillette of Schultz Foss Architects, P.C. to help move the project forward. Gillette has worked with the Discovery Center committee and Joint Powers Board since its inception. With Kyle's guidance the board plans to complete the first phase of the Outdoor Learning Area.

The BHB Basin Nature & Discovery Center Joint Powers Board will continue work on an Outdoor Learning Area due in part to a grant received from Endowment Funds of the Wyoming Community Foundation.

The board has worked to place a Discovery Center on leased property at the entrance to Hot Springs State Park. The board plans to begin by placing an Outdoor Learning Area on the property. Darlington said the Discovery Center and the Outdoor Learning Area will show why it is important to preserve our folk arts and share these arts with future generations. The Outdoor Learning Area will provide educational and recreational opportunities for children and adults, including those with disabilities. It will also provide additional assets to attract visitors.

The funding will help to prepare working drawings to begin developing the site, a seven-acre property along the highway at the entrance to Hot Springs State Park. The Learning Area will help draw attention from area educators as well as travelers - particularly families and grandparents traveling with children - enhancing tourism in the community. Hands-on learning activities and instruction will be a strong component of the Learning Area.

The Joint Powers Board has also received funding for the area from Hot Springs County, a legacy donation from the Hot Springs County Centennial Committee, Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation, Shopko and the Thermopolis Community Fund.