(Pinedale, Wyo – January 5^th, 2022) Sublette County Community unites to help a family in need over Christmas.

On December 21^st 2021, a Division T (Sublette County) Trooper with the Wyoming Highway Patrol came upon a stranded motorist just South of Pinedale on Highway 191.  The female driver had two small children in the truck with her and informed the trooper she had recently relocated to Sublette County from Central Washington with her boyfriend.  She explained to the trooper her boyfriend got an oilfield job which included housing.  When they arrived in Sublette County, she discovered the housing was a single hotel room twenty-five miles outside of town with no cell phone service or internet for her to assist with home schooling her two children. To make matters worse, her truck broke down on the trip to Sublette County, and they had drained all of her savings a few days prior. Their truck had broken down again that evening and she had no one to call to come get them as this was their only vehicle.

The trooper loaded the mother and the two kids and all their groceries into his patrol vehicle and drove the family back to the hotel they were staying at. During the car ride the mother voiced her concerns that she didn’t know how she was going to get the truck fixed and get the kids back home to Washington to have a real Christmas as she had hoped. 

The following morning the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association (WHPA) was contacted and it was decided to make this family the Division T’s adopted family for the holiday season. Each year the WHPA allocates funds for each patrol division to help families out during the holiday season. In addition, Sublette County Deputies, local businesses, and private citizens joined in to assist in the efforts to help this family in their time of need.

307 Auto Repair was contacted and the owner, Chris, agreed to make the needed repairs to the truck and went above and beyond by donating the majority of his time. Rebel Auto Parts agreed to donate the majority of the parts needed for the truck repair. The owner of Rebel Auto Parts, Randy, who happens to be the Highway Patrol Chaplin for Pinedale, contributed in getting the two children Christmas gifts. The Jackalope Hotel allowed the family to come stay in town for a week at their hotel for a reduced rate. High Mountain Real Estate and Arrived Vacation Home Care agreed to cover the hotel expense to get the family into town and also assisted in providing gifts to the family. Rider Property Management did some shopping for the family and got the whole family Christmas presents and provided them with a fridge, microwave, and other amenities while they stayed in town. Numerous local families, SCSO staff and their families coordinated to help wrap presents, get a tree, and provide meals and monetary assistance to get the family back on their feet during the holiday season.

On Christmas Eve the family was presented with Christmas presents and a decorated tree in order for the kids to have a real Christmas morning in Pinedale. The mother stated multiple times that, “She had never felt so blessed to see a community so welcoming and generous to help someone on hard times”. 

This joint effort truly defines the meaning of community, the spirit of Christmas, and why Sublette County is considered such a special place. It was a community coming together to ensure this family and their children had a magical Christmas. We appreciate and honor all those who came together to make this possible.

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Sergeant Travis Bingham

Public Information Officer

Sublette County Sheriff's Office

35 1/2 S. Tyler Ave, PO Box 701

Pinedale, WY 82941

tbingham@subso.com

Cell 307-360-7737