Cheyenne Mayor Plans Announcement Soon On The Bear

Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen says he plans to make an announcement early next week on the future of a wooden bear carving that is located at Third and Warren Avenues.

The statue, which is considered by some in Cheyenne to be an iconic landmark, was carved years ago by artist Forest Cunningham from a tree stump. It was designed as a memorial to the husband of Bravo Garris, who lives in the home adjacent to the carving.

But city officials said last fall the carving was located on a city right-of-way and was in violation of city rules.

The city at first said the statue had to be removed, but after a public outcry over that announcement the mayor announced he was putting the breaks on those plans in hopes of working out some kind of agreement,

Mayor Kaysen said earlier this year that he personally likes the statue, but added that he has an obligation as mayor to see that city regulations are enforced.

Kaysen said Thursday that he couldn't yet reveal the fate of the statue, but did say an agreement has been reached that he called a "win-win" solution.