Author Topic: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker  (Read 6623 times)

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« on: January 30, 2007, 10:30:04 pm »
My copy of the Feb. 5 issue of The New Yorker arrived in today's mail. There is a fascinating article on the effect of a natural gas boom on Sublette County, Wyoming, southwest of and on the other side of the Wind Rivers from Lander and Riverton.

(The author mentions that there was an oil boom in the county in the 1980s. Maybe that was where Kurt worked.)

The article begins with a description of the Rendezvous Rodeo, held the second weekend of July every year, that could come right out of Jack's rodeo scenes in Brokeback Mountain. It goes on to discuss the effect of the boom on the environment in the county, and on the traditional ranching culture.

Apparently the boom has led to a skyrocketing crime rate in the county, and crystal meth is an enormous problem among the roughnecks, as a result of combination of the demands of the work and sheer boredom from nothing to do when the roughnecks aren't on the job.  :-\ (One roughneck who was interviewed said that one way to combat the meth problem would be for somebody to open up a Hooters in the county, to give the guys someplace to go.  :o ).

For anyone who has access to the magazine, the article is a fascinating read, and not very long.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2007, 07:48:52 pm by Jeff Wrangler »
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2007, 09:42:59 am »
Bump.  ;D
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2007, 10:50:33 am »
I'll look for that, Jeff! I'm a little behind in my New Yorker reading.

Yeah, it can get pretty boring up there. I need to move up there and start setting up a fishing buddy matchmaking service!!

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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2007, 01:32:28 pm »
The article also includes a brief but interesting account of a round-up.  :)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline nakymaton

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2007, 01:42:24 pm »
Thanks, Jeff. I'll look for that.

Meth is a huge problem in a lot of rural communities. It's easy to make from substances that are readily available, apparently. So it isn't surprising that it's abused in the oil & gas boomtowns.
Watch out. That poster has a low startle point.

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2007, 02:21:53 pm »
Maybe this forum isn't the best place for this thread. Anybody know how to move it? Maybe to Chez Tremblay?  ???
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Lynne

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2007, 06:59:01 pm »
Maybe this forum isn't the best place for this thread. Anybody know how to move it? Maybe to Chez Tremblay?  ???

Done.
 8)

Yep - meth is a big problem in my rural community too - very sad.  In fact, my last jury duty was a conspiracy/crystal meth case.
 :'(
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2007, 07:06:09 pm »
Thanks for the "move," Little Darlin'!  ;D

Me stupid. Article's too innerestin' to get lost amongst all the beefcake pics!  ;D
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Lynne

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2007, 07:14:46 pm »
Me stupid. Article's too innerestin' to get lost amongst all the beefcake and hot sporty babes pics!  ;D

Not stupid, Jeff!  Moving is a mod-only thing!

OT:  Did you see my new thread over there?
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: Sublette County, Wyoming in the Feb. 5 New Yorker
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2007, 07:20:40 pm »
Not stupid, Jeff!  Moving is a mod-only thing!

No, me stupid for starting the thread at Anything Goes.  ::)

Quote
OT:  Did you see my new thread over there?

Sure enough!  ;D
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.