Posts from November, 2018

Western novelist John D. Nesbitt has announced a new venture, a western CD featuring songs he wrote. The new CD is called In a Large and Lonesome Land, and the artist singing the songs, W.C. Jameson, is a long-time friend of Nesbitt.

“We’ve worked on this project for a long-tome,” shared Nesbitt. “It’s great to have it finally coming to fruition.”

Nesbitt began writing songs which appeared in his books and short stories as early as 1989 and in his novels around 2000. The first time he ever heard one of his songs put to music was by some musicians at a writer’s conference in 2002. “It’s an overwhelming feeling to hear it set to music,” added Nesbitt.

The content of the songs on the CD would be considered “cowboy songs or range ballads,” said Nesbitt.

Another one of Nesbitt’s songs, Rangeland Lament, was recorded by Carol Markstrom and can be found on her CD Desert Rose.

“It is really a feeling of disbelief to have this project done after working on it for so many years,” added Nesbitt. “It feels really good.”

The CDs are available directly from Nesbitt or at Marly’s Signs and Designs at 1840 Main in Torrington. They will also be available at Eastern Wyoming College on Sunday, December 9^th during the Afternoon of Art and Music, in the Fine Arts Center, where student art by Rebecca Green will be featured, Nesbitt will sign CDs and books, and the Christmas Concert will take place. Doors open at 1, concert begins at 2.

Other projects recently published by Nesbitt include a young adult traditional western titled Castle Butte, which was released in May. In June, he was published as part of an anthology of short stories called The Trading Post and other Frontier Stories. Pearl of Great Price, a novella, was published electronically in August.

Nesbitt teaches English and Spanish at Eastern Wyoming College.

In a Large and Lonesome Land – CD Cover Artwork

In a Large and Lonesome Land – CD Backcover Artwork

Eastern Wyoming College has announced the resignation of Dr. Donald Appiarius, Vice President for Student Services. Dr. Appiarius began working at the college on July 1, 2018. The resignation was accepted immediately and he will be released from contract December 31, 2018.

“Don really cared about the students at Eastern Wyoming College and I wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Dr. Lesley Travers, President.

Eastern Wyoming College has announced that administrative leave has been extended to December 5^th for the remaining employee on leave. No further details will be shared about the investigation or disciplinary action because this is a personnel matter.

Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, will host An Afternoon of Music and Art to be held on Sunday, December 9th in the Fine Arts Center.

The afternoon will feature an EWC student Art show with Rebecca Green, a CD and book signing with EWC instructor John D. Nesbitt, and a Christmas concert featuring the EWC Master Chorus, Community Band and Choir. Doors will open at 1:00 pm, and the concert will begin at 2:00.

The Afternoon of Music and Art is free and open to the public and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Aaron Bahmer, Choral Director, at 307.532.8284.

Eastern Wyoming College President, Dr. Lesley Travers, will not be on campus Thursday, December 13, 2018. The Community Roundtable scheduled for that date has been canceled. The next roundtable will be held January 10, 2019, 12-1:00 pm in CTEC room 218. The Community Roundtables are held on the 2^nd Thursday of each month.

Dr. Travers invites all interested community members to attend the open Community Roundtable where she will provide information of interest about the college, will answer questions and address concerns.  Attendees are invited to bring their own brown bag lunch if they would like.

For more information, please contact the college at 307.532.8303.

The Wyoming Educational Attainment Executive Council, created by Executive Order on August 23, 2018 by Governor Matt Mead, will conduct nine facilitated sessions throughout the state on November 29 at the community colleges and the University of Wyoming. The sessions are specifically designed to focus the state’s approach on the needs of local communities. All sessions will take place from 6-7:30 pm.

The Council is aggressively moving forward with developing the five-year and 10-year educational master plan to reach the state’s educational attainment goals established in Governor Mead’s ENDOW initiative as a major strategy to diversify Wyoming’s economy.

The public sessions’ focus is to gain crucial perspectives from stakeholders throughout the state to identify the barriers residents face to access and complete higher education certificates and degrees. The open forum discussions will seek perspectives from attendees for specific strategies to create a college-going culture from K12 to working adults.

The Council will also provide a Facebook Live link for participation from individuals who are unable to attend a session at one of the nine locations. The link for the Facebook Live session is www.facebook.com/ENDOWyo/ and individuals can access the link on November 29, from 6 pm until 7:30 pm.

Site locations for the face-to-face sessions are:

Casper – Casper College | Casper College Union/University of Wyoming Bldg UU322

Cheyenne – Laramie County Community College | Clay Pathfinder Building Room 108 of the ANB Bank Leadership Center

Gillette – Gillette College | Main Building Presentation Hall

Laramie – University of Wyoming | Marian H Rochelle Gateway Center Boyd Room

Powell – Northwest College | Yellowstone Building Conference Center

Riverton – Central Wyoming College | Student Center Building, SC 109

Rock Springs – Western Wyoming Community College  | Room 3060

Sheridan – Sheridan College | Edward Whitney Academic Center, Room W153

Torrington – Eastern Wyoming College | Career and Technical Education Center, Room 101

Information from the sessions will be compiled and utilized to prepare the five-year and 10-year educational master plan to meet the Wyoming educational attainment goal. RSVP’s are encouraged but not required.

Ryelee Baros stands at his chair at His and Hers Salon.

When Ryelee Baros was a student at Torrington High School, a career as a barber hadn’t occurred to him. Little did he know then that he would now operate a successful up and coming business venture.

Baros, a 2011 graduate of THS began cutting his friends hair as a high school hobby. “One day one of my friends came to school with a haircut with a design cut into it and I thought to myself ‘I can do that’ so I started watching videos on how to cut art into hair,” shared Baros.

“I didn’t even think of it as a career, my real passion was art. But I just kept learning new things and stuck with it.” Baros had friends who were currently enrolled in the Cosmetology program at Eastern Wyoming College who began talking to him about the new Barbering program which would be starting soon. “They kept telling me I needed to enroll and do this as a career,” said Baros. “They were right, once I started learning about Barbershops, I fell in love with everything about it.”

Once Baros began looking for a Barbering school, the only one in Wyoming, at that time, was a private school in Casper. “I wanted to stay close to home. Going to Casper or moving to Colorado for school just wasn’t what I wanted,” added Baros. “My friends kept telling me to wait, the EWC program was coming soon. So I waited and enrolled in the first class of Barbering students at EWC.”

“He came with a lot of natural talent and realized he needed to get licensed,” said EWC Program Director and Instructor Christine Chesser. “Talent like that rarely comes around and he was easy to teach.” Chesser also shared that regardless of the talent level of students when they begin the program, they all really grow and develop their skills.

“It was fun and I am definitely glad that I did it. I wouldn’t change a thing,” said Baros. “The instructors were great. They treat it like a job and really prepare you for everything, especially the Boards.” Students completing the program must take the Wyoming State Board of Barbers examination to become licensed. The exam consists of a written test and a practical, hands-on test. Baros passed the written test and received a 100% on the practical part of the exam.

“Everyone from the first EWC class passed the exam. Thanks to our instructors, we were well prepared and were not nervous. Students from other schools who were there taking the exam at the same time seemed really nervous and less prepared,” added Baros.

“I really feel like the instructors did a good job considering it was the first year of the program, I really learned a lot about the business side of being a Barber as well.”

Chesser also added, “He has a good work-ethic which was refreshing and he has a fun sense of humor. We really enjoyed having him in the program and now we are using him to come back and share his experiences with our students.”

Baros has now opened a successful business within the His and Hers Salon which is owned and operated by Saxen Branham who is also an adjunct instructor for the College. “I met Saxen at EWC and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her,” said Baros. “She offered me the opportunity to rent space in her salon to open my business.” He was officially licensed in August and opened his business on August 13, 2018.

“My business is going better than expected for being so new,” said Baros. “I am working on building up my clientele and am promoting my business continuously online. It is still growing.”

“I love working with Ryelee,” said Saxen Branham, owner, His and Hers Salon. “He brings fresh ideas and stays up-to-date on trends and the use of social media to promote yourself. He brings a lot to the table at our salon meetings.”

When asked what he would share with others about the EWC program, Baros shared the following, “It’s not easy, but you get out of it exactly what you put into it, you have to want it and be willing to build your own brand. It was also tough going to school all day, long days, and not getting paid but a career in this field can treat you really well and give you a lot of freedom.”

The program is now expanding to include a Barbering/Stylist track. This expanded program will have the addition of work with chemicals which is a requirement for some of the surrounding states. “We are trying to make our program more mobile,” added Chesser. “There is a huge opportunity to get this education and go other places. The face of Barbering is changing and growing. Now is an excellent time to get in on it.”

Students can enroll in the Barbering program every fall semester. There is also an option for individuals who already possess licensing as a cosmetologist if they are interested in becoming certified as a Barber. Those seeking more information about the Barbering options at EWC should contact Chesser at 307.532.8363 or by email at christine.chesser@ewc.wy.edu or Barbering Instructor Amanda Lashley at 307.532.8362 or by email at amanda.lashley@ewc.wy.edu.

Baros finished by adding “Success leaves clues. Look around you and what is the common theme of those who have been successful. Also be a sponge and learn as many different techniques as you can.”

Ryelee the Barber, Baros’ business name, is available at His and Hers Salon located at 2039 East A Street in Torrington or by calling 307.401.0144.

Wyoming College Douglas Campus Student Association will be having a “Game Night and Turkey Bowl Food Drive” for the community on December 6, from 6 – 8:00 pm at the EWC Campus in Douglas. The cost for admission is a turkey, a ham, or a non-perishable food item, and is open to the community. DCSA will donate the food to local charities for distribution to Douglas residents.

For more information about this event, call Sherri Warren, instructor at 307.624.7022 or email at sherri.warren@ewc.wy.edu.

Eastern Wyoming College has announced that one of the employees who was placed on paid administrative leave on October 24, 2018 has been released from leave and will return to work. The employee has been reassigned. No further details will be shared about the investigation or disciplinary action because this is a personnel matter.

The College has extended the paid administrative leave to November 26^th for the second employee.