16th Annual Sagebrush
Cowboy Gathering
 - New to Buffalo !
February 8-10, 2008

At Buffalo High School Friday 4:00 - 9:00 pm.  Saturday 9:00 -10:00 am Cowboy Kids
 Contest & Shoot Out (sign up at 8:30 am), 10:30 – 11:00 am reading of Shoot Out
poems, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm open session, 7:00 – 9:00 pm feature performance.  Sunday Cowboy Church 9:00 am at the Johnson County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall; tickets are $10 at Sports Lure and MTR; church is free.
For more info call 307.752.2468

2008 Johnson County Small Business Expo Gears Up
February 5, 2008
Buffalo, WYO —  It is getting to be that time of year again - the Johnson County Small Business Expo is coming and bringing with it many new businesses for its fifth year.  At least five businesses will be coming from outside Johnson County.
   The Expo is, according to Angela Jarvis, just about filled up.  “We have just a few places open on the inside and a few places in the new expanded tent

area just outside the main hall,” said Jarvis.  So “if businesses want to participate they had better contact us or the Chamber soon,” Jarvis stressed.  Food will again be catered by the Invasion Bar down in Kaycee, there will be many government agencies there to talk with small businesses, a business after hours with music — though the group has not yet been announced, and presentations by businesses in the Needle Craft house.  Of course, everyone’s favorite, taste testing from the many booths that will be providing samples will be in abundance.
   The Small Business Expo was created to provide a professional venue for the small business owners of Johnson County to showcase their products and services at a reasonable cost.

   The dates for this year’s Small Business Expo our at the JC Fairgrounds are March 28th and 29th — the week after Easter.  If you are interested in participating you can get more information from any of the organizers or there is also information at the Chamber — including registration forms.  
Mini Note:  This year the Chamber has also put the registration and booth map on their website that interested folks can download and fill out.  Go to: www.buffalowyo.com and look for the JC Expo link. Or call Angela at 684-2112, Megan at 684-5126, or the Chamber at 684-5544. Those interested in sponsoring the Expo, please call Linda at 684-8831.

Local Rancher and Businessman, Mark Gordon, to Run for US Congress

Buffalo, WYO – Standing on the steps of the Johnson County Courthouse on a cold Wednesday morning this week, well known local rancher and businessman, Mark Gordon announced his candidacy for US Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Barbara Cubin (R ).  He was surrounded by family, friends and his campaign advisors.

   Gordon said he is running because he is

tired of the way government in Washington has been conducting affairs the last several years.  He says it’s time for a change, it’s been too long, “our federal government has been stocked with folks who put the interests of Washington and people elsewhere ahead of what makes sense for Wyoming," said Gordon. "People all over the state and the nation are calling for new blood, fresh ideas, and leaders willing to listen and able to think outside government, outside the beltway, who have the kind of proven business and ranching experience needed to bring about sensible change.”

   Gordon says he wants to focus on the future and on what we can do.  He sees his experience as a businessman, rancher, energy advocate, and environmentalist make him perfectly suited to help promote Wyoming’s interests in Congress. No one else has his mix of experience, he says.  What’s more, Gordon says his so-called inexperience as a politician is an asset. He owes nothing to any special interest and will keep it that way. 

   Gordon say his only interest is to promote Wyoming’s agenda of Agriculture, Ranching, Energy — including research into clean energy, the Environment, and Health Care.  He wants to leave a better Wyoming for his children. 

MARK GORDON’S KEY ISSUES

¨ Agriculture and Ranching:  Gordon sees his experience in these areas as assets that tie him to Wyoming’s most important industry, plus the added experience of knowing how to balance a budget, make a payroll and provide health care for his employees who need it.  Professional politicians often don’t have that same experience.

¨ Energy and Environment:  Gordon sees these as inextricably linked, and that it is a matter of being practical and balanced.  He says, “We need to protect and promote those things that have allowed this state to prosper and make this state such a special place.  We need to do all of that while thinking of the future and what we will leave for our children.”  Gordon says that our state’s wealth has made these choices easier, but we must keep advancing in how we deal with these resources by “supporting research and development of clean coal technologies, oil and natural gas, to fostering alternative energies, to tourism, water, open space and land conservation.”

¨ Health Care:  Gordon sees this hot button issue as something everyone should have, but we need to do it right. 

   "Whether it’s simplifying the tax code, securing our border, or improving our education system, career politicians beholden to powerful interest groups have failed us nationwide," said Gordon.  "It's time we stopped bickering and got down to the real work at hand.  There is plenty to do and we are burning daylight while we argue.”

   Asked how he stacks up against a host of other very qualified Republican candidates this year, Gordon says they are all great but he has some notable assets the others don’t have. Foremost among those, Gordon sees himself as non-politician, but with legislative experience. He also has many years of actual experience in ranching and agriculture, and he also was an appointed public servant for the environment and energy concerns, which gave him valuable knowledge of legislative procedures. Perhaps most importantly though, Gordon sees himself as the best candidate to take on Gary Trauner, the likely Democratic candidate for the same Congressional seat who almost unseated Cubin.

   He says both he and Trauner have business experience but his background is in Wyoming’s main businesses; he is not a professional politician; he’s from Wyoming and has a deeper knowledge of it; and, of course, he’s Republican.
   Gordon has assembled an knowledgeable campaign team with experience in winning high-profile, major campaigns in Wyoming and nationally. Bill Novotny, former aide to Senator Mike Enzi, will serve as campaign director, and Bob Wickers of Dresner, Wickers and Associates, will serve as general consultant.  Wickers' clients include Presidential Candidate and former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, and Lieutenant Governor of Texas David Dewhurst. Darcie Johnston, whose clients include presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Charlie Summers in the 1^st Maine Congressional District, will serve as finance director.  Buffalo resident and GOP activist Jo Ann Pearson will be the campaign treasurer. 

Mini Note:  The Gordon08 Campaign will have their  office here in Buffalo on the second story of the Omahundro Law Offices on Main Street. They’ll be setting up a website where supporters can follow the campaign and make donations. □

January 30, 2008
Buffalo, WYO — Bill Novotny, the newly appointed director of Republican Mark Gordon’s Congressional campaign will be leaving his position at the Bank of Buffalo to devote full-time to the campaign. 
   Novotny is no stranger to political campaigns.  Besides interning for Craig Thomas, he also worked for Sen. Enzi  (R ) for four years.  Novotny has worked on campaigns in the Virginia 4 special election in 2001, Wyoming Governor in 2002 , Alaska US Senate in 2004, Pennsylvania US Senate and Montana US Senate in 2006, and the Kentucky Governor's race in 2007.  My specialty is the RNC 72 hour task force which is the center component of Karl Rove's get out the vote strategy.