So Wyoming had its day in the political spotlight on Saturday. Talk of making history in the Cowboy State was bandied about as if it were a gold-plated badge of honor. And for many in the state, it was, even if it did cost the state a few delegates to the upcoming national Republican convention later this summer.

Lusk product Jonna Langston will be giving Niobrara County a little bit of the limelight as well.

The Lusk Herald reported in its Jan. 2 edition that Langston, a 2006 graduate of Niobrara County High School and a sophomore at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. will be that state's representative on MTV's "Choose or Lose '08" coverage. She became the state's representative by winning a contest that included an online application, the paper reported. Her winning video can be seen online as well.

Langston has been given all the trappings of a modern mobile journalist, including video camera and post-production equipment.

"It should be a lot of fun, a completely new experience for me," she told the Herald.

Langston said she hopes to visit Rockefeller Center and show up for a taping of MTV's Total Request Live show.

A Christmas memory all year long

Two candles and a wooden Santa. That's how a holiday tradition in Cody began four decades ago.

It was Amelia Krenning's dream to create a holiday spectacle for her friends and family.

This past Dec. 9, Krenning died at the age of 93.

So her children, family and friends did the next best thing. They kept it going, the Cody Enterprise reported in its Dec. 26 edition. "It's a tradition that will go on as long as we're able to decorate," said Debbie Gibson, one of Krenning's 19 children.

If you drive by Cody, there's a chance you'll see the display even now, as it stays up past the New Year, the paper reported.

The lights and snowmen were a Cody tradition - as much as opening a present that contained a new pair of pajamas was for the Krenning kids.

Now, the display carries a special message in holiday lights, donated by a local company.

"In loving memory of Millie Krenning," it says simply.

Ring of good feelings

Nathan Surface and his wife have been married for just over six months. So their marriage, and the wedding band that symbolizes their love, hasn't had time to grow old.

Netha, his wife, wasn't sure if the ring would ever get the chance to.

You see, Nathan lost two fingers - and nearly lost his wedding ring - in a Dec. 6 accident at the North Antelope-Rochelle coal mine in Gillette, the News-Record reported in its Dec. 28 edition.

The ring was bloodied and mangled when Netha brought the ring into a local jewelry shop and asked to see if it could be fixed.

The shop, Edenfield Jewelers, fixed the ring for free. In addition, Nathan's new employer paid for plane tickets to Denver for emergency surgery on his hands.

The ring likely saved Nathan's hand from being crushed by a backhoe bucket, the paper reported.

Perhaps it was the spirit of the season or the couple's new union that made Edenfield act.

And it gave Nathan a chance to joke about his predicament.

"Losing two fingers to make my contribution to America's energy supply is enough."

Watch your mouth

A 25-year-old woman suffered more than a bruised psyche when another woman punched her in the mouth, the Gillette News-Record reported in its Dec. 27 edition.

The paper reported that a 26-year-old woman screamed the word "snitch" and then punched a 25-year-old woman in the mouth.

Better to watch your language next time.