The following letters to the editor appeared in the March 25, 2026 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
Gravel pit
Dear Editor,
I am writing about the Lincoln County Commissioner’s pondering approval of a gravel pit on the North Bedford Bench road and I hope this does not go through. I have driven by the other gravel pit in Bedford for years and it is not something I want near my home. I often sit in downtown Bedford in the shade of the church and sketch Bedford life with friends. The trucks from the other gravel pit are destructive and awful. There are children that ride bikes and play, people walking to the post office and visiting out front.
We are seeing developments being approved and growing all around us and we understand that people are moving here to raise families and live out their lives. That is different than a loud, dusty industry.
Is another gravel pit the answer?
Our fate now rests with the elected Lincoln County Commissioners and I am hopeful that they do not approve this.
Thanks to the editor of my favorite paper for giving me a chance.
Judy Gonet
Presidential Profit
Dear Editor,
Trump and his family are profiting extensively from his presidency. From a Constitutional perspective, the Emoluments Clauses are two provisions designed to prevent corruption and foreign influence by limiting federal officials’ ability to accept gifts or financial benefits. The Foreign Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9) forbids officials from accepting foreign gifts without congressional consent. The Domestic Emoluments Clause (Article II, Section 1) prevents the President from receiving extra benefits from the U.S. or state governments beyond their salary. These are among the oldest anti-corruption rules in the U.S. Constitution, established to protect the President’s independence and prevent foreign powers from buying influence in American politics.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have met with high-level officials from eight foreign governments during Trump’s second term, as the Trump Organization expands aggressively worldwide. The president’s sons have met with foreign leaders from Serbia, Hungary, the UK, Qatar, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Somaliland and Israel so far in Trump’s second term. Here’s a very small sampling of factual evidence, constrained by the 350-word limit of letters to the editor:
March 2025, Don Jr. met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to discuss a controversial development in Belgrade at the time.
March 2025, Eric in Scotland to meet First Minister John Swinney to discuss the Trump family’s business interests in the country and “Scotland’s investment potential.”
April 2025, Eric alongside Qatari Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya at a signing event for a new Trump development involving Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
October 2025, Don Jr. in Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s annual investment forum, calling investment opportunities in the region “spectacular.”
January 2026, Eric with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos to hear investment pitches.
These are the corruption risks of a president who owns a global business while in office: separate from his administration’s foreign policy, Trump’s sons are holding undisclosed meetings with foreign leaders to create new business deals that will put money in their father’s pocket. Please don’t rebut with disinformation about “Hunter Biden’s laptop.”
Doug Simmons
Star Valley Ranch
When Public Service Starts Looking Like Private Gain
Dear Editor,
In small towns, trust is everything. We don’t have layers of bureaucracy to hide behind, and we don’t have the luxury of ignoring who makes decisions that affect our land, our money, and our future. That’s why transparency in local government isn’t optional — it’s required.
Lately, more people in our community are asking the same question: Who is really being served by the decisions coming out of our local boards and commissions?
According to the official minutes from the March 3, 2026 meeting of the Lincoln County Commissioners, a motion was passed approving a change allowing qualified retired Lincoln County employees under the age of 65 to have 50% of major medical premiums paid and 100% of vision and dental premiums covered under future insurance contracts. The motion, made by Commissioner Bowers and seconded by Commissioner Shumway, passed unanimously.
That decision alone creates a long-term financial obligation for taxpayers. Many residents in this county are struggling to pay their own insurance, yet the county continues to approve additional benefits that will ultimately be funded by the public while de-funding insurance benefits for LC Weed and Pest employees.
Beginning in 2027, commissioner salaries are set to increase from $39,891 per year to $50,000 per year for each commissioner. Lincoln County commissioner paychecks will be $15,000 higher than State average and just $22,000 less than Teton County commissioners, despite the fact that Teton County has a far larger tax base and far greater revenue.
And these numbers… raise even more questions.
Between 2019 and 2025, Lincoln County Cash Reserves increased from $5,695,911 to $53,695,991 — an increase of 842.7%. To top it off, taxpayers are also funding a non-elected chief of staff position to the commissioners costing over $100,000 per year in salary alone.
Yet during that same period, budgets are being cut from county departments, EMS services are being placed in jeopardy, Lincoln County Weed and Pest employee benefits have been completely cut, $7,000 was approved to hire a “consultant “ to livestream commission meetings and for many residents property taxes have nearly doubled in less than three years.
Lincoln County is not Teton County.
Our taxpayers are fewer.
Our economy is smaller.
Our families are already feeling the strain.
Each decision on its own may seem reasonable. But taken together, these actions form a pattern. One benefit here, one increase there, one new position, one more obligation — until the total cost becomes something the public never fully agreed to carry.
This is just the tip of a much larger iceberg, and the weight of it is slowly pulling our valley down.
Should Public service look like private gain? Transparency should never be treated as a threat, and accountability should never be optional.
Are these decisions truly in the best interest of the people? Then they should stand up to public scrutiny, and taxpayers need to start attending the meetings.
This community isn’t asking for anything unreasonable.
We’re just asking for the truth.
Amber Hyde
This Op-Ed will be a weekly series until your voices are heard and the people of this community make a stand for truth and transparency.
