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Big Horn Basin Delegation Defeats Attempt to Sell the Wyoming Retirement Center and Wyoming Pioneer House

Cheyenne, Wyo. - A group of legislators from the Big Horn Basin led by Senator Wyatt Agar and House Members Nathan Winters, Mike Greear, David Northrup, and Jamie Flitner successfully pushed back against multiple attempts to sell or close the Wyoming Retirement Center in Basin and the Wyoming Pioneer Home in Thermopolis.

The delegation passed several budget amendments in the House that fully funded the Wyoming Retirement Center and Pioneer Home through the next biennium, as well as defeated Senate File 112 that would have eliminated or put into question the future of the retirement and assisted living centers in Big Horn and Hot Springs counties, respectively.

“The Wyoming Pioneer Home and the Wyoming Retirement Center are important parts of our communities. A number of our seniors have called these facilities home for years,” said Senator Wyatt Agar. “With this thoughtful decision, our communities have an opportunity to have a conversation about what the best path forward is for our seniors and the many dedicated Wyoming people who work at these facilities. The House members from the basin have stepped up and offered tremendous support in getting this unfriendly bill and a number of unfriendly amendments defeated.”

“These are our elderly and these are their homes. They deserve every consideration that the people of the state can give them when it comes to their care,” said Rep. Nathan Winters. “I have the great privilege of visiting our seniors at both of these facilities on a regular basis. I’ve seen firsthand the great care they receive and the exceptional facilities they call home. We have an obligation to uphold our side of the contract we established with them when they came to live in these historic institutions.”

“The decision about the future of these facilities should incorporate the thoughtful feedback of local communities, instead of having this forced upon families and seniors in the Big Horn Basin by the Department of Health,” said Rep. Mike Greear.

“Both facilities are major employers in the basin,” said Rep. David Northrup. “Now we have sufficient time to consider next steps and move forward in a way that is positive for our communities and respectful of the residents of these facilities.”

“I thank my colleague in the Senate for his work and commitment to protect the Wyoming Retirement Home and the Wyoming Pioneer House,” said Rep. Jamie Flitner. “I am grateful that our team was able to come together and do what is right for our seniors and local communities.”

 

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