[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 118 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCORPORATION OF MOUNTAIN VIEW

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 50th 
anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Mountain View, WY.
  On August 19, the folks of Mountain View will come together for the 
town's 50th birthday party celebration with food, music, games, and 
fireworks. This event is an exceptional example of Mountain View's 
strong sense of community. The town of Mountain View was incorporated 
on November 20, 1973, in Uinta County, WY. Wilford Stoddard became the 
first mayor, along with council members Eldon Tripp, Jack Byrne, Alfred 
Davidson, and James Cox. Located in Bridger Valley, at the base of the 
Uinta Mountain Range, the town is far older than 50 years. Mountain 
View was platted on 40 acres within the county on February 26, 1898. 
Today, the town spans over 550 acres.
  In 1843, fur trapper Jim Bridger set up a trading post on the Black's 
Fork River just a few miles from present day Mountain View. The post 
served travelers on the Oregon Trail and later the Mormon and 
California Trails. In 1858, the U.S. Army took over the post and named 
it Fort Bridger. The army abandoned the fort in 1890. As Americans 
began moving west, many settlers in Bridger Valley and what is today 
Mountain View established ranches. Today, Mountain View remains deeply 
rooted in agriculture, feeding Wyoming and the rest of the country.
  The views and scenery of Mountain View are unparalleled. The town 
serves as a hub offering its residents and visitors remarkable 
opportunities for fishing, camping, and hiking in the Uinta Mountains. 
The Uintas are one of only two major mountain ranges in the United 
States that run east to west. One of the earliest local businesses in 
Mountain View was Benedicts, the town's only grocery store. Started in 
1938 as the Benedict Trading Company by Harlen Benedict, the store is 
still a cornerstone of the community. Another local and long-standing 
business is the Union Telephone Company. Founded by John Woody in 1914, 
Union provided the first phone service in Bridger Valley. John Woody 
used rifle cartridges as plugs and jacks on his first homemade 
switchboard. Managed by four generations of the Woody family, the 
company is still headquartered in Mountain View where they serve over 
40,000 Wyoming customers. In June 1937, the people of Mountain View and 
the surrounding Bridger Valley unified to create the first electric 
utility under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Rural Electrification 
Administration. Bill Riding served as the first general manager for the 
newly formed Bridger Valley Electric Association. The association 
continues to provide Mountain View with power in 2023.
  Mountain View boasts a long and rich local history. From the time of 
the fur trappers, to the Nation's westward expansion of the 19th 
century, to modern day, Mountain View truly embodies the culture of the 
Cowboy State.
  Mountain View is led by these dedicated individuals:

       Bryan Ayres, Mayor
       Tori Carter, Council
       Jenny Harvey, Council
       Jamy Ferrin, Council
       Kelly Bonner, Council
       Penny Robbins, Clerk/Treasurer
       Amanda Fraughton, Deputy Clerk
       Mark W Harris, Attorney
       Tammy Murray, Deputy Clerk
       Heather Ayres, Deputy Clerk
       Jacob Porter, Public Works
       Steven Kendall, Public Works
       Spencer Bates, Public Works
       Steve Catlin, Public Works
       Allister Bunch, Police Chief
       Dexter Moehler, Fire Chief.

  Event Planning included these committed citizens

       Mark Tesoro and Todd Griffith, Southwest Wyoming Outdoor 
     Trails
       Tom Dean and Dennis Freeman, American Legion Post #36
       Leila Dean, Linda Lingle, Donna Bindl, and Vicki Fader, 
     American Legion Auxiliary
       Andy Kopp, Sheriff and Trevor Rasmussen, Under Sheriff, 
     Uinta County Sheriff's Department
       Mindy Tollefson--Uinta County Fair Manager
       Isaac Lords, Scoutmaster and MarNae Lords--Leaders, Boy 
     Scout Troop #7798
       Cara Trees--Leader, 4-H Group--The Rednecks
       Collette Bugas, Instructor, UC School District #4 High 
     School Student Council
       Wade Stoddard, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service
       Regina Dickson and Allen Deru, Wyoming Game and Fish
       Jessica Guild, Instructor, Mountain View High School 
     Cheerleaders.

  It is an honor for me to rise in recognition of this significant 
milestone for Mountain View, WY. Their golden anniversary celebration 
is a tribute to generations of determination and commitment that built 
this town. Bobbi joins me in extending our congratulations to the town 
of Mountain View on their 50th anniversary of incorporation.

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