Expedition Academy in Green River Can Collector Winner

More than 2.3 million aluminum beverage cans by U.S. schools through a new national recycling competition sponsored by the can industry. The recycled cans, totaling more 68,000 lbs, generated more than $34,000 for school activities and other uses. With a recycling rate of 29.21 lbs (approximately 1,000 cans) per student - more than double the per capita rate of any other school - Expedition Academy in Green River was the national winner. The schools competed in the Great American Can Roundup (GACR) - School Challenge, a national competition sponsored by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), a trade association representing can makers and their suppliers. Competing schools were rated on a per capita basis, comparing the pounds of cans recycled to the number of students participating.

Rocky Mountain Power is looking to raise electricity rates

Rocky Mountain Power is looking to raise electricity rates to the tune of about 80-million dollars – boosting residential customer bills by 12 dollars a month. While the request has been scaled back from an initial 98-million dollars, Tim Summers with A-A-R-P Wyoming says it’s still potentially the largest utility rate hike in state history... and it comes less than a year after Rocky Mountain Power filed a 71-million dollar rate hike request.







Summers says households and small businesses would be charged the most in this rate hike, and with a poor economy and static incomes, the timing is wrong.







Rocky Mountain Power says the rate hike is needed to keep up with rising energy costs, and Summers says while utility companies are entitled to generate profits, he says this request goes too far. The Wyoming Public Service Commission is holding a hearing on the request this Thursday in Casper.

Train As a Volunteer Now Before The Next Disaster Strikes

When a disaster strikes, the first instinct of any human is to help. In the case of the Joplin tornado, Emergency Management officials had to request that people simply stay away while those trained in rescue could move in. Jessica Willingham, Chief Operating Communications Officer for the St. Louis American Red Cross says it pays to be ready in advance.






Officials have warned that this tornado season has only begun and the hurricane season is still to come. Both are expected to record breaking in the amount and strength of storms.

Financial Donations Requested For Joplin Tornado Victims

Officials are warning that the massive tornado outbreak in the south and the devastating destruction in Joplin, MO is only the beginning and more is to be expected. According to Jessica Willingham, Chief Communications Officer for the St. Louis American Red Cross, when their volunteers respond to any disaster, they must be able to have supplies in hand.






You can also text a ten dollar donation to 90999. Cell phone carriers are not charging extra fees for those texts so all of the money goes to the Red Cross.

Dinosaur National Monument Officials Announce monument Opening

Dinosaur National Monument Officials have set a date for the grand opening of the new Quarry Visitor's Center and Quarry Exhibit Hall. October 4th will be the Monument's 96th anniversary, and spokesperson Mary Risser says holding the grand opening on that date would be a great way to celebrate. The Warry Visitors Center had to be torn down and rebuilt because of structural instability. It offers information on the history of the area, from the days when dinosaurs roamed the area to the present. The monument itself boasts petroglyphs, homesteading history, and many miles of trails and river on 80 acres. Although the grand opening is set for October, the center will open to the public as soon as the work is done.

Horse Disease Affects Colorado Events

The number of horses confirmed with a fatal horse virus continues to rise in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Agriculture said yesterday there are now eight confirmed cases of equine herpes virus, including two horses that had to be euthanized. There are also 22 suspected cases and 10 quarantine orders issued in six counties. Colorado State Fair organizers have voluntarily canceled three horse events to limit the number of horses traveling to the fairgrounds in Pueblo. The Routt County Fairgrounds has also banned horses at their facilities for at least another week. The disease has been traced to horses at the Western National Cutting Horse Finals in Ogden, Utah, earlier this month. Horse owners who want to transport their animals are being advised to call their veterinarian. The veterinarian will have to request a permit number for the horse's health certificate, already required for entry.

Horse Inspections To Take Place

The Wyoming Livestock Board says horses must be inspected by a veteranarian 72 hours prior to entering the state. Earlier this week the agency said within 72 hours of arriving. Clarification came yesterday to make sure horses are examined first, out of concerns about the highly contagious equine herpes virus-1. There is no risk to humans.

Road Contract For Cleanup Signed

The state has awarded a contract for cleanup of the rockslide blocking U.S. 14A between Lovell and Sheridan. It will cost the state $237,000 to clean up the rockslide. Work will be done by June 3. Another contract newly awarded - $9 million to widen the shoulders on Interstate 25 south of Buffalo. That won't be finished until October 2012.

Wyoming Getting Younger

New Census figures show Wyoming is getting younger. The median age in Wyoming is 36.8, compared to 37 nationwide. Analysts say Wyoming's energy boom has attracted younger workers and that's why Wyoming is the only state with a declining median age for several years running now.

Meetings For Slide

Public meeting will be held to talk about the mudslide in the Snake River Canyon. WyDOT will answer questions tonight at 7pm at Jackson Middle School. Another meeting will be held tomorrow at 1pm at the Alpine Civic Center. It's a massive mudslide that has forced the closure of Highway 26-89 between Alpine Junction and Hoback Junction. WyDOT said yesterday in a release they have to wait for the slide to stabilize to remove any debris.

Railyard Completion

Union Pacific Railroad representatives, customers and community leaders from western Wyoming officially opened a new $24 million rail yard about 20 miles west of Green River. The rail yard provides vital support for the nation’s economic growth and shipping the products American families and businesses use every day. Jim Young, Union Pacific chairman and chief executive officer says “The Blacks Fork Rail Yard is the latest example of our company’s commitment to grow with our customers and provide great service,” “By improving the way rail cars are sorted for specific destinations, we are increasing efficiency, creating faster delivery time, and helping our customers compete in a global economy.” Rail yard construction began in August 2008 and was completed in December 2010.
Features of the Blacks Fork Rail Yard, offering advantages for Union Pacific customers, include:
• A total of 47,000 feet of track including three tracks with capacity to handle 150 rail cars each.
• A new bridge over the Blacks Fork River.
• Five automatic electronic identification readers strategically placed in the rail yard to assist in monitoring rail car movements.
• Thirteen switches, the devices that move a train or rail car from one track to another, for flexibility in sorting customers’ rail cars by destination.
• 27,000 ties, with 11,000 made from steel and the remainder wood.
• 86,000 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed.
Union Pacific plans to spend approximately $3.3 billion in 2011 to support America's current and future freight transportation needs and enhance the safety and efficiency of the railroad's 32,000-mile network. Improvement projects such as this are examples of Union Pacific continuing to support its customers' business through strategic investments.

Two Are Killed in Aircraft Crash in Northern Sweetwater County

Searchers have reached the site of a light aircraft crash in northern Sweetwater County. There were no survivors. According to Sweetwater County Sheriff Detective Dick Blust, Jr., pilot Gilmer Mickey of Englewood, Colorado and his sole passenger, Bob Albert of Fort Collins, Colorado leftPinedale, Wyoming Wednesday morning. When they did not arrive, the authorities were called.






The cause of the crash is yet unknown. Federal Transportation Safety Board investigators are due to arrive in Rock Springs on May 20, and will be coordinating their efforts with county officials.

People Will March For Babies This Weekend in Green River

The Annual March for Babies will be held this Saturday at Evers Park. Dianna Wilkins, State Director for the March of Dimes says the funds raised at the walk will stay in Green River and Rock Springs.







Wilkins says the money is especially important to support those families who are in need of a neonatal intensive care unit, or nicu (nick-you)…







To get invoved, you can pre-register by calling 307-266-6789 or you can also just show up. Registration takes place at 8:30 Am with the walk following at 9. Evers Park is located at 370 South 2nd East in Green River.

Wyoming In Macy's Parade

Wyoming is going to have one of the largest bands in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. With 300-plus members, the All-State Marching Band was one of just 11 bands chosen for next year's parade out of 150 that applied. Parade officials presented Governor Matt Mead with a proclamation Tuesday announcing Wyoming's selection.

land Slide Still Moving

It could be another two weeks before a landslide in the Snake River Canyon is cleared. The two-thousand foot slide has blocked Highway 26/89 since last weekend and, at last report, was still moving. A state engineer says it might be Friday before crews can start clearing it and then it might take 10 days to finish the job.

Flood Warnings

Flood warnings, watches and warnings are up for most of eastern Wyoming as a late-spring Pacific Storm moves across the state. Parts of southeast Wyoming could get up to three inches of rain. A winter storm watch is up for the central and northern mountains, which could see up to a foot of snow.

Union Settlement

The State of Wyoming has agreed to a settlement of nearly 45-thousand dollars with a corrections officers union. The union had claimed that top administrators at the state Department of Corrections retaliated against them for union activities. The state also agreed to give the union more freedom in recruiting new members and expressing concerns about prison management.

Donations Needed for Benches

The Golden Generation Advisory Board needs donations to install six benches along Uinta Drive. Pam Spivack, a member of the advisory committee says each bench carries a cost of $675. However, to secure the price of the benches, the board has to have the money by May 25. If you donate the full cost, you can have a plaque attached to the bench in memory of someone, or the name of tyhe donors. Residents wishing to make a donation for city benches can make checks payable to the Green Belt Task Force.

internet Services

City Councils in Green River and Rock Springs voted to approve a memorandum of understanding between the cities and the Joint Powers Telecommunications Board. The agreement allows the city to now lease fiber optic strands and bandwidth to private providers of internet and telecommunication services. Residents of rural communities in northern Sweetwater County will soon have access to wireless internet services.

Rock Springs Air Monitoring Station Operational

An air quality monitoring station in a gas field south of Rock Springs is now in operation according to State regulators. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality says the monitoring station in the Hiawatha Gas Field is solar and wind powered. The station will check for ozone gas, which has been a recurring problem during the winter in the Upper Green River Basin north of Rock Springs. The station also will monitor temperature, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, relative humidity and sunlight.

Steel Target Shooting Improves Skills

A National Rifle Association Foundation grant the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s office has been awarded will directly benefit both law enforcement and the shooting public, Sheriff Rich Haskell said.
The Sheriff’s Office program, called “Expanding Southwest Wyoming’s Shooters’ Resources with Reactive Steel Targets,” was conceived as a multi-faceted approach to enhancing those resources through the purchase of reactive steel targets, steel target systems, and other shooting range equipment for use by law enforcement and civilian shooters at the Sweetwater County Shooting Sports Complex Firearms Range south of Rock Springs.
Haskell said the grant funds, $10,952.81, will be used to purchase a variety of reactive steel handgun and rimfire-caliber targets and target systems for use in law enforcement training, for an advanced Civilian Firearms Training Course being established by the Sheriff’s Office, and for the general, free-of-charge use by the general public at the Shooting Sports Complex through the Sweetwater County Recreation Board, which manages the county’s firearms range.
It has long been established among experts in combat and self-defense firearms training that the instant feedback provided by reactive steel targets is highly beneficial.
As a result, Haskell said, training on reactive steel targets is one of the best ways of developing the skills necessary for effective and safe handgun self-defense training.

BLM Proposing to Remove 1225 Wild Horses From the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area

A 30 day public comment period has been launched by The Bureau of Land Management Rock Springs Field Office on an Environmental Assessment to gather excess wild horses from the Great Divide Basin Herd Management Area. BLM Spokesperson Serena Baker says the round up is necessary.






The gather is necessary to maintain the wild horse herds within the established AMLs in compliance with the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act and the 2003 Wyoming Consent Decree The gather is anticipated to begin Fall 2011 to remove approximately 1,225 excess wild horses, may include using fertility control, as well as adjusting sex ratios. Comments can be submitted by email, mail or hand delivery during normal business hours at the BLM Rock Springs Field Office at 280 191 North in Rock Springs. For more information call 307-352-0256..

Annual BLM Hearing on Motorized Vehicle Usage For Wild Horse Management To Be Held In Rock Springs

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming will be holding its annual statewide hearing on the use of helicopters and motorized vehicles in wild horse management operations. The hearing will take place on June 21st at the High Desert District Office located at 280 Highway 191 North in Rock Springs. Spokesperson Serena Baker encourages anyone interested to attend and share their views.






Comments made during the formal statewide public hearing will be recorded
and summaries will be available upon request. For more information contact Wyoming State Wild Horse Specialist Amy Ruhs at 307-352-0375, or Rock Springs Wild Horse Specialist Jay D'Ewart at 307-352-0331.

Long Time For Snake River Canyon to Reopen

Highway workers temporarily stopped clearing a massive landslide on highway 26/89 and said it could be a “long time” before the Snake River Canyon is open again for motorists. Northbound traffic on US-26-89 can continue on US 26 into Idaho north of Alpine Junction. That route passes through Irwin and Swan Valley before becoming Idaho Highway 31, which turns to the east through Victor and into Wyoming, where WYO 22 crosses Teton Pass into Jackson. railers will be prohibited on Teton Pass from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. to facilitate daily commuters during the closure. This includes vehicles pulling campers, boats or other types of trailers. A weight restriction of 80,000 pounds also is in effect during those hours. WYDOT geologists are continuing to assess the landslide.
WYDOT is assessing the magnitude of the active slide and the logistics of removing the debris. The slide is estimated to be about 30 to 40 feet high above the road and extends about a quarter of a mile up the hill. The slide consists of large rocks, vegetation and mud which is mixing with water that is running downhill.

Wx Spotter Course

On Thursday, May 19th at 12:00 Noon the National Weater Service out of Grand Junction, Colorado will be at the Daggett County Courthouse Commission Room to conduct their annual Weather Spotter Training Course. This is about a 2 hour course. Bring your lunch and learn about weather that we need to be concerned about.

Bureau of Land Management Extends Deadlins For Wild Horse Ecosanctuary Program Proposals

The Bureau of Land Management has extended the deadlines for proposals for a program that could not only benefit ranchers, but also the local economy as well. Tom Gorey, Spokesman for the BLM, says private ranchers could establish ecosanctuaries to help establish wild horses.






The deadline for those with private land has been extended to June 7th. The deadline for those with a mix of private and BLM managed land as been extended to June 21st. For more information, go to BLM.gov and follow the link to the press release.

Drug Ring Busted

A Natrona County grand jury has indicted 28 people in connection with what authorities are describing as a multistate drug ring. Prosecutors say the alleged drug ring was moving 10 to 12 pounds of the drug each week. Arraignment for each person is the next step, when they'll formally answer to the charges.

Farmers Say Crops OK

A cold winter followed by a rainy, wet spring has delayed planting of some crops in Wyoming, but farmers say most crops are doing okay in cool, wet weather. The the extra moisture is helping sugar beets, barley, oats and other crops already in the ground.

Flood Potential

Many have an eye on flooding potential as the heavy snowpack melts this spring. The latest figures show snowpack at 174 percent of average. The biggest problems will come if it melts off quickly. The Wyoming National Guard says it is ready to assist any communities with flooding.

Wyoming’s Hoback River is listed as one of America’s “most endangered” in a report released today

Wyoming’s Hoback River is listed as one of America’s “most endangered” in a report released today (Tuesday) by American Rivers. Ten waterways are featured each year – they aren’t the “most polluted,” but rather rivers that face pollution risks. The Hoback is number seven because of plans for hydraulic fracturing, called “fracking,” near the river’s headwaters. Rendezvous River Sports owner Aaron Pruzan in Jackson notes that the lower reaches of the river are designated “Wild and Scenic.”






Outfitter Dan Smitherman with Citizens for the Wyoming Range has spent the past year promoting public discussion about the risks of gas development in the area.






Plains Exploration and Production Company, based in Houston, has plans to begin natural gas extraction at the Hoback’s headwaters using the “fracking” process – which involves chemicals that can leach into water systems. The company claims the chemicals are not dangerous and are closely monitored. Purzan says the best thing to do to protect the river and the company's bottom line would be for the leases to be "bought out."

Expedition Kayak Competition Open to Amateurs and Experts

This Friday and Saturday. Green River will be the host of the USAFK Green River Expedition Kayak Competition. Katie Duncan, Recreation Supervisor for Green River says everyone is welcome Friday night for a meet the pros night with gear demonstration.s






There is also free camping for the event. For more information, call 307-872-0514.

2011 Special Olympics Wyoming Summer Games

More than 800 athletes, coaches and partners are scheduled to participate in the 2011 Special Olympics Wyoming Summer Games this Thursday through Saturday at Laramie. Athletes will compete in basketball, aquatics, power lifting, gymnastics and track and field. Events will be held at the University of Wyoming Field House and Corbett Building, Laramie High School, Wyoming School of Gymnastics and the Laramie Recreation Center.

Nebraske Shooter Arrested in Wyoming

A suspect in a fatal shooting in Nebraska has been arrested in Wyoming. A shooting in Scottsbluff, NE killed 33-year old Dominic Marquez. 26-year old Daniel Morgan is being held in the Goshen County jail. Authorities are still deciding on what charges to file.

Wage Gap

Heavy snow has caused problems at Yellowstone. Sylvan Pass - which connects Fishing Bridge to the park's east entrance - remained closed for the third straight day Friday because of multiple snow slides onto the road. Snow also contributed to the collapse of the roof at an RV repair facility this week and damaged the roof at the Grant Village Visitor Education Center.
No injuries have been reported in either incident and repairs are under way.

Teton County Not A Priority

Teton County is not on the list of top-priority counties state officials are trying to help as Wyoming prepares for massive snowmelt, but worsening conditions could change that status.
Speaking during a news conference with reporters Wednesday, Gov. Matt Mead said the state has already begun working with communities threatened with spring flooding and expects the efforts to continue through the end of June.

Marking Pen Creek Prescribed Burn

The Bureau of Land Management High Desert District Rawlins Field Office
(RFO) treated approximately 4,500 acres with prescribed fire in the Marking
Pen Creek area during the week of May 2. Residual burning and smoke may
linger for a week or more. Visitors are advised to use caution as trees may
continue to fall in the burned area.
The Marking Pen Creek area is on the south-southeast portion of the Seminoe
Mountains, west of the North Platte River and Seminoe Dam and Reservoir and
approximately 23 miles northeast of Rawlins. The Marking Pen Creek burn is included in the 26,000 acre Seminoe Mountains prescribed fire project area and is part of a multi-phase treatment over a 10-year period.

School District meeting May 10

According to Wyoming Representative John Freeman, the number one topic at this year’s state legislature was education. Freeman spoke at last night’s school district two board meeting in Green River about his concerns and the proposals of the legislature






The school bond bill was known as HB 144 and it failed during the general session.

Rock Springs man arrested on May 7 free on bond

Daniel Raymundo Trujillo, 48, was taken into custody without incident at his residence by Sweetwater county deputies on May 7th. He was freed the same day on a $20,000 cash or surety bond. Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that according to a Wyoming Department of Corrections Probation and Parole affidavit, Trujillo used methamphetamine on April 13, 2011, and alcohol on May 2, 2011, both of which were violations of his probation.






Trujillo was originally sentenced to four to five years on one charge, five to ten years on a second and six months on the third. Those sentences had been suspended and he was placed on supervised probation. Officials said Trujillo's next court appearance is being scheduled.

Bear Relocated

Wyoming wildlife officials say they have relocated a young grizzly bear that had developed an affinity for pet and livestock feed.
Game and Fish spokesman Dennie Hammer told the Billings Gazette on Monday the sub-adult male bear was trapped north of Jackson, Wyo., on Saturday and has been relocated about 6 miles outside the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The 250-pound grizzly was seen frequenting residential areas in the Buffalo Valley north of Jackson.

Sweetwater County Commission Agrees Tp Pay Subsidy to Airport

The Sweetwater County Commission agreed to pay a yearly subsidy of about $128,000 for the SkyWest flights to Salt Lake City from the Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Airport. the state contributes 82% of $1.5 million total subsidy according to one report. Airport Manager Leah Henderson says airport revenue is more than 20% up compared to last year and there have been more people flying out of Rock Springs.

Habitat's National Women's Build Week a Success

Habitat for Humanity got help from several hundred women this past week in what was a national effort. Habitat's National Women's Build Week was a huge success. Lori Furawhite of Cheyenne says "Women Build is a great organization due to the fact that a lot of women don't think they can build a house." "I was really afraid because this is someone's home. You're building someone's home and I just wanted to watch. I didn't want to mess up." She and many others around the country did just fine in their efforts.

Flood Prep

Emergency managers in Carbon County are preparing for a busy flood season. Sandbags are being readied in many areas of the county, especially in Baggs, Dixon and Saratoga, where flooding occurred last year. County Emergency Manager John Zeiger (ZIG-ur) says they've ordered around 40-thousand sand bags for the county, half of which will be destined for Saratoga. Warmer weather over the weekend is expected to speed the runoff, however a lack of rain will keep it from overwhelming streams and rivers. Emergency Managers in Northwest Colorado and South Central agree that a stretch of warm weather and rain could create the worst flood season in 25 to 30 years.

Wyoming High Water Expected

While many locations in Utah are dealing with high water, southwest wyoming appears to be okay-----with the details, heres steve core

NW Co Hunting

The biggest challenge Northwest Colorado hunters may find this year, is getting their license. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has approved license numbers for this year's big game hunting seasons. The division says over the past decade, they have been reducing local herds by issuing large numbers of hunting licenses. Now that herds have reached their ideal management sizes, that number will decline. This includes deer, antelope, and elk herds. The numbers were announced at last week's meeting among wildlife commissioners.

The Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association is pushing for more focus on safety in workplaces

A call to clock-in for “safety first.” The Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association is pushing for more focus on safety in workplaces in light of an annual report about worker fatalities and injuries. It shows the Cowboy State persistently ranks among the highest. W-T-L-A president Bryan Ulmer says one employee safety improvement would be to change the way the state responds to incidents. Right now, he says major investigations only happen after an injury or death.






Ulmer adds that workplace safety isn’t just a management or state issue...it takes employee collaboration, too.






He says the state could also help promote business and industry efforts to increase workplace safety, and possibly reward companies with solid safety records. An AFL-CIO report lists Wyoming as 47th worst in the country for its worker fatality rate, with 19 people losing their lives on the job in a single year.

Snowpack Unusually High This Year

Snow pack measurments are above average for this time of year. The May 1st snow pack measurements showed record levels for snow water equivalents. Many of the middle elevation snow courses have not started to melt out. As of May 1st, the Snake River Drainage Basin’s snow packs averaged 164 percent of normal, over two and one-half times last year’s average of 61 percent of normal. Snow packs in Star Valley ranged from a high at the CCC Camp snow course site of 220 percent of normal to a low at the Willow Creek Snotel Site of 160 percent of normal. The Spring Creek Divide Snotel course at the head of Greys River is at an average of 156 percent of normal. Water flow predictions for the Greys and Salt Rivers were both predicted to flow 134 percent of normal as of April 1st.
Snow packs in the Uinta Mountains are 255 percent of average at Lily Lake Snotel Site. The Monte Cristo Snotel Site’s snow pack was 175 percent of normal.

Use Of Lands Plea

A growing and diverse collection of Wyoming residents are calling for a more balanced use of public lands. While recognizing the importance of resource development, these voices want to bring attention to the facts about how the oil and gas industry operates in Wyoming. Industry tactics include filing frivolous lawsuits designed to limit public input about what’s best for public lands.
Just this week, an out-of-state industry lobbying group, the Western Energy Alliance, filed charges that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is obstructing energy development in Wyoming. We urge you to take a deeper look at this charge and consider writing a story or editorial digging into the real facts around drilling in Wyoming.
Recent industry spin attempted to paint a grim picture of energy development in Wyoming, but only nine out of the 16,808 BLM oil and gas leases in Wyoming are in dispute.
The Wyoming leases in question total just over 13,000 acres, yet industry has 11.7 million acres leased in the state with just 33 percent of existing leases in production.
Wyoming BLM has processed all backlogged leases in Wyoming. The industry is waiting on just 222, or around 1 percent of the more than 16,000 leases the BLM oversees in Wyoming. Industry has only developed 33 percent of its existing leases.

Bowl For The Kids' Sake this Weekend in Green River

The Clearview Bowling Center in Green River will be home to the Bowl for Kid's Sake event this Saturday that benefits the YWCA Big Brothers Big Sisters programs. Teams of 4-5 people will bowl for two hours beginning at 5 PM. Program manager for the Big Brothers Big Sisters, Melinda Baas, says you may still have time to get a team together.







Even if you don't have a team, you are still invited to come and listen to DJ music, participate in the silent auction and raffle and share the food and fun.

Sweetwater County Sheriff Deputies Attempt To Cut Back On Trash Violations

Sweetwater County Sheriff's deputies will be making traffic stops and writing tickets as part of a campaign to cut back on trash scattered along the main routes to the landfill south of Rock Springs.






Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says the maximum penalty for a violation is 20 days in jail, a $200 fine, or both. Sweetwater County Solid Waste Disposal District #1, which operates the Rock Springs landfill, have also started charging those who come to the landfill with unsecured loads $10 for private vehicles and $25 for commercial loads.

Bin Laden Death Scam Could Lead To A Virus

President Obama made it clear yesterday that pictures of Osama bin Laden's dead body will not be released to the public. But that is not stopping scammers from claiming they have them. Links on Facebook and in emails have been popping up in people's accounts and law enforcement officials like Sweetwater County Sheriff Office Detective Dick Blust, Jr. are warning not to click on them.






The FBI has warned the current scam could lead to a virus that will steal your personal information.

BLM Land For Oil

The Bureau of Land Management is taking its public meetings on oil shale to Colorado, as the Interior Department takes a fresh look at an oil shale plan released by the Bush administration. That plan made about 1.9 million acres of public land potentially available for commercial oil shale development in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado and about 431,000 acres for tar sands leasing and development. The BLM kicked off its public meetings on the issue in Utah last week. The next meetings are Tuesday in Rifle, Colo., Wednesday in Denver and Thursday in Cheyenne, Wyo. The BLM has said oil shale resources in deposits in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming hold an estimated 1.5 trillion barrels of recoverable oil. Companies are researching commercially viable ways to extract it.

Rock Slide Reported

A rock slide that covered US 14A east of Lovell in April will delay the opening of the mountain road until mid-June, transportation officials said. WYDOT is expected to call for an emergency bid to clean up the debris, which will require special equipment and some blasting and could cost around $200,000 to complete.

City Employee Pay Reduction Posed at Council Meeting

Also at last night’s city council meeting, the council was given a presentation by the city employee relations committee regarding a decrease in pay of city employees over the past few years. Given the current state of the economy, the city has been losing revenue and it has hurt the employees as well. Spokesman Jeff Frink stated that the city employees had to endure sacrifices due to the pay decrease, and also mentioned that the rising cost of health care is having a significant effect. He stated that he would like to see the pay cuts stop for city employees. Councilmember Alan Boan stated that everyone is suffering because of the down economy. Mayor Hank Castillion told Frink that it was not the choice of the city council or government to cut pay, it was the nature of the economy. He continued, stating that the council and city cares about the welfare of its employees, and would be looking into the pay cuts. He also thanked Jeff for bringing the issue forward.

City Council Meeting Reports with Justin Wolffing

An amendment to one of the city of Green River’s parking ordinances went through its 2nd reading last night, however as previously, there were still many issues left to decide. Justin Wolffing reports:

First Boating Accident Reported

Officers with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are reminding boaters to “boat smart” after a man survived a boating incident which sent him to the hospital for hypothermia.
Green River Game Warden Dustin Kirsch said he was notified by an angler who rescued another angler after the man fell into Fontenelle Reservoir on April 23. Kirsch is thankful the man is okay, but concerned that the man was operating his boat in frigid cold water temperatures and the incident was not reported to authorities.
“The fisherman is lucky to be alive,” Kirsch said. “The water temperatures in local reservoirs are extremely cold and if there had not been another person in the vicinity to rescue the man he would surely be dead from hypothermia-induced drowning. The man was not wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) and he was alone in the boat.
“Not wearing your PFD is a lot like not wearing your seatbelt,” said Green River Regional Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco. “They are both safety equipment, but they don’t help you unless you are wearing them. In an emergency situation, like someone falling into the extremely cold water, there is so little time to save that person. It was much worse in this case; he was alone and not wearing a PFD.”
“Now is the time to make sure all of your safety equipment and your watercraft are in good working condition, not when you are in a life-threatening situation in the freezing cold water,” Kirsch said.
Wyoming law requires that a Coast Guard approved life jacket, that is in good condition and fits, must be available and accessible for each person on board. In addition, one Coast Guard approved throwable flotation device is required for all boats 16 feet in length and longer. Wyoming law also requires lighting for watercraft underway on waters between sunset and sunrise and fire extinguishers on most types of watercraft. Hypothermia is a force to be reckoned with-it can happen fast and requires quick treatment. So, bring someone along with you.”
Boaters can pick up a copy of the 2010-2011 Wyoming Watercraft Regulations at any regional office of the Game and Fish and most license vendors.

The Economic Impact of a Terrorist Attack on our Food Supply

The United States is now bracing for a possible retaliation terrorist attack following the death of Osama bin Laden. One possible attack could be on our food supply. Dr. Curtis Kastner, Director of Kansas State University's Food Science Institute warns that such an attack could have a far reaching economic impact.






Homeland Security is asking American citizens to stay vigilant and report anything that appears to be unusual to their local law enforcement.

Gas Prices Could Decline

Could there be come good news for gas prices? Triple A's Jessica Brady.






The price of oil began to slide after the news of Osama bin Laden's death.






Prices now are just ten to fifteen cents away from that $4 mark.

bin Laden Scams Surfacing

Cybercriminals are exploiting Osama bin Laden’s death to trick people into visiting malicious websites. The phrase "Osama bin laden dead" was the most popular phrase entered into search engines Monday, and scammers used that opportunity to luring people to malicious sites. There are also infected messages circulating on Facebook with links to videos and pictures, sometimes leading to bogus ads by legitimate companies. When the ad is clicked, it leads to a malicious site. If a site promises a photo of bin Laden's dead body, it's probably a trick.

Elk Still On Winter Range

Officials say deep snowpack is probably keeping more than 5,000 elk and several hundred bison on their winter range at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson. About 75 percent of radio-collared elk are still on the refuge, compared with about 30 percent of radio-collared elk at this time a year ago.

Red Card Vehicle Registration Campaign Continues

Sheriff’s deputies continued their “red card” non-resident vehicle registration enforcement campaign last week, handing out nearly 150 of the official warnings at job sites in Sweetwater County.

Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell said county officers tagged non-resident workers’ vehicles at a variety of work locations, including the Jim Bridger Power Plant, Simplot, BJ Services, Halliburton, Oil States International, and Schlumberger.

Under Wyoming law, if you are working here or have lived here 120 days, you must obtain Wyoming license plates and registration or a temporary worker registration permit for your vehicle.

The “red cards,” while official notices, are not citations. They explain that Wyoming license plates and registration or a temporary worker registration permit must be obtained for the vehicle. Haskell said his agency and the County Treasurer’s Office track the notices and citations are a consequence of not being in compliance.

Full-time college students from out of state are exempt from the registration and license plate requirements, as are full-time members of the armed forces of the United States, “whether in regular service, organized reserves or national guard, as long as a registration from another state is in effect when the vehicle entered Wyoming and the vehicle is properly registered in accordance with the laws of that state.” Also exempt are workers’ vehicles from Idaho, Nebraska, Illinois, and New Mexico, with which Wyoming has reciprocity agreements, and workers who live in another state and commute to Wyoming for work on a daily basis.

Haskell said the campaign will continue and urged affected non-resident workers to get their vehicles in compliance.

New Terrorism Alert System Will Provide More Detailed Information

The National Homeland Security Office has made it clear that the death of Osama Bin Laden is not the end of the threat of terrorist acts toward our country. As a reminder, the familiar color-coded system of alerts is no longer in play. Instead, according to Amy Kudra, a spokesperson for Homeland Security, the new two-alert system will provide more specifics about the alert being issued.






The two levels will be "Elevated Threat" and "Imminent Threat." Currently, there are no alerts issued. To find out more about the new alert system or if any have been issued, go to dhs.gov/alerts.

Bin Laden's Death Creates Heightened State of Vigilance

The death of Osama Bin Laden has created a heightened state of vigilance nationwide. The National Homeland Security Office is encouraging all Americans to be aware of their surroundings with the continuing "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign.






Amy Kudwa, a Spokesperson with Homeland Security, reminds everyone to be aware of both emergency and non-emergency phone numbers in your area. Homeland Security Janet Napolitano issued a statement today that her office does not intend to issue an NTAS alert at this time and will only do so when they have specific or credible information to convey to the American public.

PS 3 Attach Advice

The Sony Playstation 3 hacker attack has hit some local gamers. Detective Sgt. Tom Jarvie with the Green River Police Department said while a large-scale intrusion such as this tends to grab the attention of a lot of people, the actual losses in Green River from such large-scale identity theft are typically minimal. Jarvie also recommended users change passwords used across multiple Web sites and suggested affected residents check their credit reports one or two months from now. Places like annualcreditreport dot com can help to determine if you are a victim of identity theft or fraud.

Child Porn Sentence

James Carroll of Green River has received 108 months in prison for possession of child pornography. He was sentenced last week in the case where he was convicted of the crime and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment, a $1,000 fine and $300 restitution. Carroll’s time in prison will be followed by a life term of supervised release. The investigation revealed more than 1,500 illegal photos on the computer, according to a GRPD news release.

A-A-R-P National Bee

Next month, spellers from all over the country will be in Cheyenne for the A-A-R-P National Bee – competing for a five thousand dollar prize. It’s the 16th year for the bee, which is open to anyone age 50 and older. 2009 winner Michael Petrina, Jr., from Arlington, Virginia, is competing again. He says there is still plenty of time to study. He’s set up a system of index cards, and offers this insight:







Susan Hartner from Hillsboro, Oregon, won the bee in 2007. She says she wants to see a woman win again, and she’s going to give it a try. She was methodical in setting up her study lists….







Dr. Tony Johnson from LaGrange, Georgia, says his study ‘list’ is the entire dictionary.







Some who have placed, and won, admitted to no special studying – just reliance on a lifetime of learning. There is a written round and oral round for the bee. Words will come from Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Spelling word lists, study resources and registration are all available online from A-A-R-P (AARP.org/spellingbee).