CASPER — Gov. Mark Gordon spoke at the Wyoming Press Association’s 125th annual convention during a luncheon and awards presentation.

“This is an exciting time for the state,” Gordon said.

Gordon’s excitement stems from the state becoming more diversified in energy production and less dependent on fossil fuels. He encouraged embracing an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, including oil, gas, coal, solar, wind and nuclear.

Where there is intermittent energy, Gordon said, there needs to be other sources that fill the void. Nuclear is going to be a big piece of energy production for Wyoming he said.

While he acknowledged the state’s potential to find an energy balance and reduce carbon dioxide, he warned that the epic commitment to zero emissions was not a realistic or honest approach to energy.

Energy production is just one aspect of the state’s economy.

“We are more economically diverse than we have been in over 50 years,” Gordon said.

He commented on the growing tourism sector and said he hopes that surge will continue to extend throughout the state beyond the Yellowstone area.

Despite economic strengths the governor is concerned about recruiting professionals.

“We need to figure out how to migrate professionals to the state” he said.

Essential services such as EMT and the fire departments in small rural Wyoming towns are lacking.

“Kemmerer has real challenges with getting an ambulance crew in place,” Gordon said. “They don’t have an EMT crew to respond. We have to figure out how to get this EMT system working better and figure out how we are going to fund that.”

The governor said it is a big issue that Wyoming must address.   

While some areas are regionalizing their services, members of the Wyoming Legislature Joint Labor Health and Social Services Committee recently sponsored three bills designed to help local fire departments recruit volunteers and leaders. 

Mental health is also an issue on the governor’s radar. Noting each town hall has their differences, he said there was a common theme that addressed mental health.

“Our system is not working. We have challenges and people are falling through the cracks,” he said.

Gordon said there is a consistent message that mental health remains a high priority and needs to be talked about. Admitting there are not enough resources, Gordon said, “We can do a better job allocating across the spectrum.”    

Also mentioned was affordable housing and property taxes, which have been hot topics throughout the state. He encouraged that the tax rebate resources be reserved for those who absolutely need it.

“We need to make sure that the people who need that relief get that relief,” he said. “Unfortunately people equate taxes with what the state is doing, but property taxes go to schools and counties on a local level to provide those essential services that are so important.” 

In terms of education, Gordon said, “We need to create an education system that is responsive to kids as they grow and expand.”

He said the state is setting up apprenticeship programs that will allow students to become skilled in a trade such as welding. Addressing the teaching shortage, he said teachers seeking a master’s degree should be able to do so while teaching.

During other festivities at the press convention, many Wyoming newspapers were honored, including the Kemmerer Gazette, for work over the last year.

In the small weeklies category, the Uinta County Herald took home first-place recognition for general news story for “School bus stops and sex offenders: should they be at the same address?” by reporter Hayden Godfrey and managing editor Bryon Glathar; and first place for spot news story with “Three Horses Euthanized at Wyoming Downs” by Hayden Godfrey. The latter was appreciated for fairly representing both sides of a controversial story.

Glathar and sports editor Don Cogger were also awarded second place for headline writing, judges stated, “Typography better than most of the other entries and some attention was paid to word choice creativity.”

Cogger took home several more awards for his work, sweeping one category. He earned first, second and third placings for sports feature photos for “Senior Night celebration,” “EHS Homecoming one for the ages,” and honorable mention for “Swimming for state,” respectively. Comments included: “Great moment that allows all of the players a chance to add to the strength of the image,” “awesome photo,” and “super use of vertical framing.”

Cogger also took home second place for sports news story with “Classics win big at State Spirit in Casper,” and “Evanston Elite Wrestling shines at WAWA State.”

Judges cited “Awesome writeup about the event ... great work capturing and using the emotional tidbits” and “terrific use of quotes.”

Cogger also earned accolades for his work for the Kemmerer Gazette, the Herald’s sister paper. Cogger took home first place for sports action photo with “Down but not out.”

Judges said, “Great collision, strong moment.” He also received honorable mention for “Lady Rangers compete at Evanston Invitational.”

Finally, Cogger received second place for photo story with “Cokeville rodeo packs them in for Pioneer Days.”

The Bridger Valley Pioneer, another of the Herald’s sister papers, also received first place recognition for Virginia Giorgis’ story “Going green generates tons of garbage.” “Great writing, well done,” the judges said. The Pioneer also took second place for Advertising Excellence, a major award.

Uinta County Herald Reporter Amanda Manchester contributed to this report.