The Bear To Be Moved To Frontier Park

Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen says a carved bear statue that has been located at Third and Warren Avenues will soon be moved to the Indian Village at Frontier Park.

The carving of a bear was created from a tree stump by artist Forest Cunningham several years ago for Millie Bravo-Garris, who lives in the home adjacent to the property, as a memorial to her husband.

But city officials last year said the carving needed to be moved because it was in a city right-of-way and violating city ordinance. Mayor Kaysen several months ago put a halt to the move to try to reach some kind of agreement on the statue's future. Kaysen on Monday announced an agreement had been reached with Bravo-Garris to move the statue to the Indian Village.

The move is scheduled for Wednesday morning, March 16 at 10 a.m. weather permitting. The mayor says the move will be open to the public, adding it should take about 2 hours or so.

Besides the city and Bravo-Garris, Cheyenne Frontier Days and Evergreen Lawn and Tree Service are partners in the agreement.

Evergreen agreed to move the carving free of charge and also to remove other tree stumps on the property without charging Bravo-Garris or the city.

Mayor Kaysen is applauding the agreement as a "win-win", noting the bear will have a 'safe and secure home" and won't be in violation of city code once the move is made.