In northeastern Wyoming’s rolling hills is a region blessed with energy, agriculture, and family. Gillette and Campbell County might never hit the national news. But small-town life is full of tales worth sharing. That’s where County 17 News comes in. They provide coverage that mirrors the area’s character, values, challenges, and achievements.
Here, we’ll give you a behind-the-scenes tour of County 17 News. Like what it does, how it serves the community, what types of stories it covers, why it matters to readers, and where it’s headed in the years to come. Whether you’re a veteran, a newcomer, or just considering making this fine Wyoming region your home, here’s your behind-the-scenes primer on how good local reporting gets it done.
What Is County 17 News?
County 17 News is a locally owned and locally operated online news website dedicated solely to Gillette and Campbell County. It provides up-to-date news regarding city and county government, law enforcement activity, the energy industry, education, community events, and public health. Functional and applicable in format, it provides information that remains at the forefront and of ongoing interest to residents.
While the large media corporations are deeply embedded elsewhere, County 17 is deeply embedded locally. It is written by Wyoming-based writers, writers who live in the community they write about, along with photographers and editors. The goal is straightforward: to mirror the community honestly, accurately, and with consideration.
Why County 17 Matters
In rural settings, citizens need local news above all else. When big media over-hypes rural news, County 17 picks up the slack. It’s a town square, where discussion of how long debate on the city’s new budget will last, where public health announcements are announced, where reports on a local student championing a championship is read aloud, and where reports on the newly opened diner on Main Street get heard.
Local news isn’t reporting, it’s about bridging gaps. County 17 informs the citizens how city hall will affect their water bill, how highway construction will affect school transportation, or how a community fund raiser can help a family in need.
What County 17 Covers
City Government and Civic Engagement
Reporting includes city council meetings, infrastructure plans, zoning conflicts, and public hearings. If or not a firehouse is built or a public park renovated. Citizens are informed of what’s happening, and how it might impact them.
Law Enforcement and Safety Alerts
Daily reporting of police activity, police emergency calls, fire department calls, and traffic accidents are some of the main characteristics. They assist residents in feeling safe and becoming aware of local law enforcement activities.
Energy Industry News
Campbell County is an energy powerhouse. Coal, oil, gas, and new renewable energies drive the story of energy as the centerpiece of County 17’s mission. The magazine tracks job creation, mine openings or closings, safety regulations, environmental regulations, and industry projections, because it’s news that counts; it’s life stuff.
Health and Public Alerts
Coverage consists of flu clinics and vaccine availability during flu season, storm preparedness, and wildfire smoke alerts. County 17 keeps the public informed in a timely manner, briefly, and accurately.
Education and School Events
Board meetings, student achievement, after-school events, budget, and sports results are some of the school news. Worth the time for parents, students, and teachers who would prefer being informed.
Business and Local Economy
Small enterprises are the lifeblood of Gillette. County 17 features business grants, job postings, grand openings, entrepreneur profiles, local markets, to a healthier local economy.
Community Features and Events
From rodeos and fairs to art festivals and charity fundraisers, community news reflects the region’s culture and climate. The newspaper also carries human-interest pieces. It includes a 60th anniversary couple or a local high school debater who made it to the nationals.
Obituaries and Memorials
County 17 respects the memories of the deceased with dignity, for example, complimentary obituary listings and contemplative tribute to the people who have made an impact in the community big and small.
Opinion and Reader Voices
Neighbors often write letters to the editor, comment on proposed ordinances, or write about local history and experience. County 17 provides a medium for these opinions to make the dialogue and sense of civic pride better.
Signature Series and Columns
Crime Clips
The popular feature is an everyday rundown of arrests, citations, and incidents. It’s designed to keep citizens informed about issues and trends in public safety.
Weekend Roundups
Readers are provided with a carefully researched list of events, from live music to public meetings, on a weekly basis so they can best make use of their weekend and be active in community life.
Student Spotlight
Youth success in sport, education, and the arts are brought to the fore by this uplifting column as a remembrance of investment in the future generation.
Profile Pieces
Community leaders, businessmen to politicians to volunteers are profiled occasionally by readable articles on their community service.
Community Involvement
Veteran and Military Voices
With a concentration of veterans, the newspaper periodically carries stories on the coming back of soldiers, military funerals, or memorial services in local cemeteries.
Environment and Land Use
Feature coverage addresses the conflict of recreation, ranching, and environmental management. There might be local initiatives to maintain wildlife corridors or stories about new trail construction programs.
Housing and Development
As Gillette grows, homeowners want to know about new home building, real estate taxes, and city development plans. County 17 covers them all, from planning commission meetings to construction site breaking news.
Weather and Climate
Homeowners search for fast-breaking weather news when hail storms, snowstorms, or high winds strike. In-depth weather coverage of drought, burn potential, and climate impacts on agriculture also takes place as conditions warrant.
Arts and Culture
It could be a community play, music festival, mural unveiling, or heritage festival, this location brings culture to life. It encourages the public to share talent and creativity with one another.
Reader Experience and Trust
County 17 is transparent. The editorial staff publishes corrections online, takes input, and values reader feedback. The site is tidy, straightforward, and mobile-friendly.
Social media sites are dynamic and interactive. People can comment, interact, and share stories with their friends and loved ones there. Weekly summary through email enables readers to follow most of the news and never miss a big event.
County 17 Challenges
As with any local station, County 17 also has challenges:
- Competition with social misinformation on social sites
- Human bandwidth managing in breaking news reporting
- Ad revenue constraints navigating
- Supporting real-time reporting demands in a 24/7 cycle
But it stands above them by being committed to its mission. By serving Gillette and Campbell County residents with integrity, urgency, and timeliness also.
Growth Opportunities
The future is bright for County 17:
- Podcast premieres with community leaders or local students
- High school journalism partnerships to develop the next crop of correspondents
- Video coverage of city hall hearings, school concerts, and local sports
- Spanish-language translations of high-profile public service announcements
- Interactive maps showing road closings, business districts, or park planning
Supporting County 17
The readers can help this valuable platform through:
- Subscribing to the email newsletter
- Sharing stories on social media
- Tipping off local news or events
- Advertising local businesses or services
- Guest essays or opinion columns
- Helping support investigative reporting or school programs
Final Thoughts: A Community Voice That Listens
17 County News is not only a website, it’s a connection. It listens to the community, honors its citizens, and keeps the powers honest. It snaps the small stories that are important, ribbon cuttings, graduation rites, hayride fund-raising, and the larger ones, like city-wide infrastructure elections or economic realignments in the coal fields.
In a time when local voices are so easily drowned out, County 17 amplifies them. It reminds readers that their stories are important, their opinions are valuable, and their community is worth good reporting.
