The Chandelle coffee group is not joking.

It meets weekly at the Chandelle Events Center, a stone’s throw from the Riverton airport, and is generally made up of men between 50 and 80 years old.

This iteration of the group formed around 2020.

They may not always solve the world’s problems, but they have become a main campaign stop for local politicians.

They hosted Cheyenne attorney Darin Smith and a film crew during Smith’s 2022 run for the U.S. House of Representatives; and they let opposing state legislative candidates listen every election season.

They even hosted women, like state Rep. Pepper Ottman, R-Riverton, and Fremont County Republican Party Vice Chair Ginger Bennett.

But on Wednesday, the group was calmer. His regulars slowly ate buttermilk donuts and drank black coffee.

Although the Chandelle events center was large and echoing, the men huddled around a solitary table 10 feet from the kitchen, where two pots of coffee were ready.

The host, former Riverton Mayor Ron Warpness, stood up to insert a chair into the core each time a new participant arrived. Regulars also include farmers, ranchers, veterans, businessmen, a former longtime paramedic and a former puppeteer, to name a few.

They’re all on the conservative side, so they look to the fine print of the U.S. Constitution and the drama of local government to fuel their disagreements.

“A lot of people like to put restrictions on the Second Amendment,” said Richard Turek, sitting with his arms crossed, revealing forearm tattoos reading “virtus junxit” and “mors non separabit” — Latin for “What virtue has joined”. , let death not separate.

“If you took those same restrictions and put them in, say, the First Amendment,” Turek continued, “journalists would have to pass background checks and have government permission to practice their profession. »

» This is what he said, nodding to the journalist present in the room.

Directly to Turek’s right, Chuck VanBrunt, 80, said it was the different wording of the Second Amendment that was sparking the debate over gun regulations.

“They used the words ‘well regulated,'” VanBrunt said. “How do you define the term “well-regulated” when it comes to firearms? This goes to verbiage.

The men then questioned whether the Second Amendment mandated militias.

It’s really hard to sue the government

Wayne Dick, an outspoken conservative in the community, informed his friends that his lawsuit against the Fremont County commissioners over the Commission’s restrictions on public comment had been dismissed due to a technical error in the manner in which he filed his complaint with officials.

It is very difficult for an average self-represented citizen to challenge the government, Dick lamented.

“All I wanted was clarification on whether or not their rules and regulations are a violation of the Wyoming Constitution,” said Dick, who speculated that by imposing restrictions to public comment, the commissioners may have violated their oath of office.

The restrictions on public comment came after attendees read aloud at a commission meeting sexually oriented books that are in the public library’s children’s section, Dick said. The participants did this to protest against the provision of books for children.

Ask the mayor

VanBrunt said everyone should hear Warpness’ contribution, since he is the politically experienced person in the group.

The whole of society is calcifying around legal formulas, was Warpness’ response.

“We have become very litigious in many areas,” the former mayor said. “Do you know the term ossification? You become bony. This is how our entire legal system has become: a bone.”

There is no government conspiracy to prevent well-intentioned prosecutions, it’s just the way the system is designed, Warpness said, with a wry look at Turek, who Warpness said likes to spin theories about government conspiracies.

Pat Mossbrucker got up, fetched a pot of coffee, and moved around the table, filling everyone’s cups.

With surprising speed, Dick snatched off his cap and sent an autumn fly onto the table.

He missed.

Despite the boom, no one at the table jumped.

Warpness handed Dick a fly swatter, and Dick put his hat back on his head. The cap read: “Protect the 2nd Amendment.” » Not everyone wore a hat, but every hat present had something to say. Two read “High Plains Power.” One read “Trump” and another: “I miss the America I grew up in.” »

Despite their outspoken hats, some men didn’t speak at all, like Richard Haun, who, in his farming days, grew corn that made other farmers green with envy.

“It looks like a retirement community”

Men have waded into the dangers of “snake oil salesmen” selling vegetable-based dietary supplements that aren’t all they claim to be.

Jason Lewis, a 55-year-old spring chicken, fired back, saying he swears by an herbal supplement to treat his gout. The gout is his father’s fault, Jason said, smiling at his father Jack Lewis, seated to his right.

The table rang with approval when someone mentioned the health effects of beets.

But no one should discuss the prostate, because there was a lady in the room, VanBrunt said, referring to the reporter.

Men were skeptical of chiropractors and concerned about big pharma.

Turek, who is also 55, frowned.

“Anyone got anything new?” » he asked. “Something we haven’t talked about, so we don’t look like a retirement community?” »

Oh this tax

They could always talk about the half-percent economic development tax, which will be re-approved in the Nov. 5 general election, said Ernie Schierwagen, who makes delicious sauerkraut.

“Oh, our favorite subject,” Turek joked.

Scheirwagen lamented that the tax benefits upper-class people, like many business owners who received grants worth tens of thousands of dollars — but that it taxes everyone, even the poor.

He’ll probably vote for it, but he’s still having trouble accepting it, Schierwagen said.

That’s because the tax is mixed: 20% of its revenue goes to local air service and 10% to ground transportation. The remaining 70% is distributed to private businesses, entities and other groups, including the local college, which is a public entity.

Lonnie Woodard, who runs a propane company, said the community is “evolving” its approach to the tax and learning to do better with it. He supports it, he said.

Indeed, municipalities and counties would have to return part of the tax proceeds to the county’s private ambulance provider, if voters approve the tax this year. Paramedics have lamented poor working conditions over the past year and joined a union last year.

VanBrunt, a three-decade veteran paramedic, spoke of the need for passionate, quality paramedics in the county.

“Can I honk a little, Chuck?” » asked Ken Watts in an evocative burst. “I remember back in the ’70s when you were a paramedic, a lot of doctors would say, ‘If I’m in an accident, that’s the guy I want to pick me up… he wraps them in a package gift.'”

VanBrunt thanked Watts for the compliment.

Watts told the Cowboy State Daily that he supports the tax, noting that his son, an artist, took advantage of it.

Turek, who does not support the tax, said he nevertheless approved of the subsidy received by Watts’ son because Shannon, Watts’ son, is not in close competition with other businesses in the county; he represents the county in a positive way during his many business trips, and is the type of business that many banks would overlook.

“This is the kind of business they should support,” Turek said, adding the assumption “not choosing one gas station over another.”

At the end, they took a vote. Woodard and Watts were the only two truly in favor, not counting Russell Lewis, who said he would vote for it if he could, but his ballot is from Hot Springs, not Fremont County.

Warpness, who has spoken publicly in favor of the tax in the past, said he is now “undecided” because campaign signs advertising it don’t accurately reflect ballot language, which he feels disreputable.

Some men said they favored the land and air transportation provisions but hated local government subsidies to private entities. Most of them voted “no”, with this reservation.

“Based on this investigation,” Woodard said, “it’s not going to pass.”

Claire McFarland can be reached at [email protected].