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Award of Excellence
Ramin Rahimian Freelance
"Boomtown"
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Over the past seven years, gas companies have flocked
to the vast deposits of natural gas in the desert surrounding Wamsutter,
Wyoming. Today, this small, dusty town, situated amidst a stark landscape of
sagebrush and parched earth, is booming. The roughnecks and townspeople work
tirelessly, struggling to build a good life and community for their families.
Yet, with the city's history of booms and busts, for many residents the
realization of a permanent community has remained elusive. Like a tumbleweed blowing
across nearby I-80, the town feels temporary and the people transient.
Residents hope though that this boom will bring change and stability. They
hope that the economic prosperity reaped by the gas companies and the state
government will find its way back to help create a lasting Wamsutter.
"The Playground" Wamsutter kids play in a large lot in town after
school. The kids of Wamsutter have very few options to pass the time. One
popular place to hang out is a big lot of dried grass, a weed-covered
basketball court, and rusting playground equipment sandwiched between rows of
mobile homes. Most of these kids are from families that have relocated to
Wamsutter from other cities in Wyoming or the Pacific Northwest so their
parents can work in the booming gas business.
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