44-year-old Kenneth Roark of Torrington is dead after steaing a pickup in downtown Cheyenne and then crashing it. The Wyoming Highway Patrol says Roark stole the 2003 GMC truck and was speeding on Interstate 25 when the crash occured around 1:15 AM Wednesday just 2 miles north of Cheyenne. The truck had not been reported stolen. Troopers says the crash occured on a slight curve in the road. Roark was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wyoming 70 May Close Sooner Than Expected
State Department of Transportation officials say Wyoming 70 in south-central Wyoming will probably close earlier than normal this fall. Part of the paved road washed out in May and it is a one-lane, gravel and dirt road in that area. WYDOT spokesman Ross Doman says that it will be difficult for snow plows to clear the stretch of road that isn't paved when it starts snowing.
So the plan is to keep the road open as long as possible in October and then close the road for the winter earlier than usual.
Doman says crews are working above the slide area in preparation for a new permanent two-lane road to be built next year.
So the plan is to keep the road open as long as possible in October and then close the road for the winter earlier than usual.
Doman says crews are working above the slide area in preparation for a new permanent two-lane road to be built next year.
Truck Driver Crashes Into Rawlins Home and Dies At Hospital
The truck driver that slid down an embankment and crashed into a Rawlins home has died. The semi-truck ran off the right side of Interstate 80 Thursday afternoon, went through a barbed-wire fence, plowing through two fields before crashing into a home on the south end of the city. No one was in the home at the time, but the truck narrowly missed a stop sign and a child's bike that was on the corner. The driver was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Kolb Concerned for Credit Card Late Fees
Commissioner John Kolb spoke Tuesday morning as he says he is concerned with the Penalty fees charged by credit card companies. Kolb said he wanted the commissioners to find a way to discourage county offices from turning in their statements late. According to Kolb, late charges should not be accumulated because credit card companies allow payments to be made within a 30-day window before they assess late fees. Kolb recommended a plan of action which would cause agencies who incur late fees to have that amount taken from that organization’s budget and placed into a separate account.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Escaped Inmate Has Been Caught
A minimum-security inmate who escaped from a work detail at the State Fairgrounds in Douglas is back in custody. The Wyoming Corrections Department says Derrick Lee Brock was caught Wednesday night without incident in Casper by city police officers and Natrona County Sheriff's deputies. Brock was serving time at the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp in Newcastle when he was found missing last Friday. Brock was sentenced earlier this year to seven to 10 years on a larceny conviction.
Governor Mead's Grandmother Has Died
Governor Matt Mead's 97 year old grandmother has died. Martha Hansen was the wido of former Wyoming Senator Clifford Hansen. She died Thursday at the family ranch in Jackson. Mead says his grandmother's quiet grace was a defining attribute. She was unfailingly kind and gracious. Clifford Hansen married the former Martha Close in the fall of 1934. The couple celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary shortly before Clifford Hansen died in late 2009.
Additional Vaccine Clinic To Be Held
Due to projected School District #1 exclusions that will be taking place on October 6th, Sweetwater County Community Nursing Service will be holding an additional clinic for required vaccines. Nurses will be available from 9:00am-11:00am and from 1:00pm-4:00pm. Appointments are required. Call 922-5390 to schedule.
BLM Plans Prescribed Burns over 20 Year Period for Ferris Mountain
The BLM is planning to conduct a multi-phase prescribed fire treatment on approximately 12,500 to 22,000 acres of federal, state and private lands with a 10 to 20 year period. The area to be burned is mostly in the Ferris Mountain Wilderness Study Area about 30 miles north of Rawlins. The prescribed fires will reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfire by elimiating existing fuel loads, creating natural fuel breaks, rejuvenating decadent aspen communities and improving upland vegetative health and diversity.
Federal Gas Tax Would Have Expired Friday
If Congress had not extended it, the federal gas tax would have expired today. Transportation projects like the Green River Rock Springs Alternative Route are funded by a combination of federal and state government funds that comes from the federal gas tax. Pete Rahn, Senior Vice President of HNTB Corporation and former Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation says that while the extension is a good temporary fix, a new system to fund our roads has to be developed.
Rahn believes that the current generation needs to step up to the plate to fix our infrastructure.
Congress voted on September 15th to extend the gas tax and highway and mass transit funding through March of 2012.
Rahn believes that the current generation needs to step up to the plate to fix our infrastructure.
Congress voted on September 15th to extend the gas tax and highway and mass transit funding through March of 2012.
Beet Harvest Begins Next Week in Wyoming
Wyoming beet farmers are getting ready for the annual harvest. Monday marks the official start of the picking season in Fremont County. Farmers plan to work all day to take beets from the field and send them to plants where they can be processed. Nearly 600 tons of beets will be harvested per day at Jennings Farms. They say the work used to be done by hand, but it is now done mechanically. Beets are mainly used to make sugar and syrups.
Wyoming Confirms Three Cases of West Nile This Year
The Wyoming Department of Health has confirmed three cases of West Nile virus in the state so far this year. Health Department spokeswoman Kim Deti says the agency confirmed cases in Fremont, Albany and Goshen counties. The Fremont County case was the most serious this season because the symptoms included encephalitis. Last year, Wyoming recorded six human cases of West Nile with no deaths. In 2009, the state had 12 human cases with one death.
Fracking Hearings This Week
The Environmental Protection Agency is holding hearings this week on new nationwide environmental standards for the process known as fracking. The biggest proposed change is requiring wells to be fitted with a special piece of equipment to separate oil and gas from fracking byproducts. Those byproducts have been tied to air and water pollution in Wyoming, with some people claiming their health has been harmed. Retired E-P-A scientist Weston Wilson has testified, saying the new standards are similar to ones currently on the books in Wyoming, but there isn't consistent enforcement yet.
David Ellenberger with the National Wildlife Federation says the E-P-A is taking a big step in the right direction.
The equipment would not only capture contaminants, but also recover oil and gas that slips through current processing. The agency must take final action on the proposal by February 28th.
David Ellenberger with the National Wildlife Federation says the E-P-A is taking a big step in the right direction.
The equipment would not only capture contaminants, but also recover oil and gas that slips through current processing. The agency must take final action on the proposal by February 28th.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Accused Cheyenne Murderer Faces Arraignment
A Cheyenne man accused of killing two people and wounding a third is scheduled to be arraigned in district court. Thirty-two-year-old Nathaniel Castellanos faces arraignment on Monday, before District Judge Peter Arnold in Cheyenne. Castellanos faces two charges of first-degree murder and one charge of attempted first-degree murder. 21 year old Corey A. Walker and 25 year old Megan L. McIntosh, both of Cheyenne, were shot to death on Aug. 23rd in Castellanos' home on Cheyenne's northeast side. 23 year old Amber J. McGuire was critically wounded. Prosecutor Mike Blonigen has said he may seek the death penalty against Castellanos. Blonigen said Wednesday that he's not prepared to say whether he will seek the death penalty, but said Arnold may give him a deadline for making the decision.
102 People Arrested For Deportation In Colorado and Wyoming
Immigration officials say 102 people have been arrested for deportation in Colorado and Wyoming as part of a nationwide roundup. The Obama administration on Wednesday announced the arrest of about 2,900 immigrants across the country. The director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said each had at least one criminal conviction. Agents working for ICE's Denver region arrested 96 people in 25 cities in Colorado as well as six people in Wyoming. Most of the arrests were along Colorado's Front Range and included people convicted of sexually exploiting children, theft and drug possession. The weeklong roundup came just a month after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that immigration officials would focus enforcement efforts on serious criminals and delay deportation cases for most non-criminal immigrants who don't pose a threat.
Recalled Cantaloupe Expected To Cause More Illnesses
Federal health officials said Wednesday more illnesses and possibly more deaths may be linked to an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe in coming weeks. So far, the outbreak has caused at least 72 illnesses - including up to 16 deaths - in 18 states, making it the deadliest food outbreak in the United States in more than a decade. The heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said consumers who have cantaloupes produced by Jensen Farms in Colorado should throw them out. If they are not sure where the fruit is from, they shouldn't eat it.
The recalled cantaloupes may be labeled "Colorado Grown," ''Distributed by Frontera Produce," ''Jensenfarms.com" or "Sweet Rocky Fords." Not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker, the FDA said. The company said it shipped out more than 300,000 cases of cantaloupes that contained five to 15 melons, meaning the recall involved 1.5 million to 4.5 million pieces of fruit.
The recalled cantaloupes may be labeled "Colorado Grown," ''Distributed by Frontera Produce," ''Jensenfarms.com" or "Sweet Rocky Fords." Not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker, the FDA said. The company said it shipped out more than 300,000 cases of cantaloupes that contained five to 15 melons, meaning the recall involved 1.5 million to 4.5 million pieces of fruit.
Two More Cattle Test Positive For Brucellosis In Wyoming
Livestock officials say two more cattle in Wyoming have tested positive for exposure to the disease brucellosis. The 13-month-old heifers originated on a ranch in the Meeteetse area in Park County. They are Wyoming's first cases since February.
Wyoming Livestock Board officials say the results came back recently from a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab in Iowa. The cattle were tested because they came from a brucellosis surveillance zone that extends around the Yellowstone region and includes all of Park County.
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that originates in elk and bison. The disease can cause cattle to abort their calves.
State Veterinarian Jim Logan says previous brucellosis cases in Wyoming have been traced to elk and further testing is needed to determine the origin of the latest cases.
Wyoming Livestock Board officials say the results came back recently from a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab in Iowa. The cattle were tested because they came from a brucellosis surveillance zone that extends around the Yellowstone region and includes all of Park County.
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that originates in elk and bison. The disease can cause cattle to abort their calves.
State Veterinarian Jim Logan says previous brucellosis cases in Wyoming have been traced to elk and further testing is needed to determine the origin of the latest cases.
Deadline For Applying For Preference Points Is Friday For Hunters
If you are a hunter and have not applied for preference points this year, your time is about up. Information Specialist Al Langston says hunters have until Friday to submit an application.
Earlier this summer, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department sent out more than 15,000 letters to notify hunters that their accumulated preference points are in jeopardy of being lost.
You can apply online, but only until 5 PM on Friday. Hunters can also verify preference point balances on the Game and fish website after mid-November.
Earlier this summer, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department sent out more than 15,000 letters to notify hunters that their accumulated preference points are in jeopardy of being lost.
You can apply online, but only until 5 PM on Friday. Hunters can also verify preference point balances on the Game and fish website after mid-November.
Rawlins Bridge Replacement Will Hopefully Be Complete By Winter
Wyoming highway officials hope to finish work this winter on a bridge to replace one destroyed in a washout that killed four members of Colorado family. A flash flood on July 19th washed out a section of Wyoming 130. The family's camper van ran into the breach as they fled a nearby campground in the middle of the night. A temporary, one-lane bridge has been used since the flood. The design for a permanent, replacement bridge is almost complete, and the project is on schedule. Ross Doman, a spokesman for the Wyoming Department of Transportation, said the best-case scenario is to finish work before the snow gets too heavy. Otherwise, the work will have to wait until after the water levels drop after the spring runoff.
Grizzly Trapped Near Cody Released
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has trapped and moved a young female grizzly bear that was damaging an apple orchard near Wapiti west of Cody.
The bear was moved Friday to a spot some 18 miles west of Flagg Ranch between Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
Game and Fish says the release site is located within currently occupied grizzly bear habitat.
The bear was moved Friday to a spot some 18 miles west of Flagg Ranch between Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
Game and Fish says the release site is located within currently occupied grizzly bear habitat.
Forces Join To Fight Underage Drinking and Drunken Driving
The state of Wyoming, the Cheyenne Police Department and F.E. Warren Air Force Base are combining forces to fight drunken driving and underage drinking. Yesterday, Governor Matt Mean, Cheyenne Police Chief Brian Kozak and Colonel Christopher Coffelt, commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, announced the effort at a news conference. The program, entitle "Enforcing Drinking Laws," is based off the "0-0-1-3" program, which was developed at F.E. Warren. That program stresses zero drinks for those under 21, zero DUIs, one drink per hour and just three drinks total. It will be started in Laramie County which will serve as a model for the rest of the state.
Feasibility of Siting Coal Gasification and Synfuels Plants in Wyoming
Companies considering building coal gasification or natural gas conversion projects in Wyoming now have a valuable tool to help determine the feasibility of such projects in the state, as well as reduce their initial research time and cost.
The “Feasibility of Siting Coal Gasification and Synfuels Plants in Wyoming” study is an extensive and highly technical report that creates feasibility models for coal gasification and natural gas conversion plants in Wyoming and discusses the potential economic viability of those projects.
An executive summary discussing details and utilization of the models is now available on the Wyoming Business Council website or by contacting the State Energy Office at 307.777.2824. Organizations interested in previewing the models may make arrangements through the Wyoming Business Council. Specific modeling software and training are required to interpret the report and its results.
The “Feasibility of Siting Coal Gasification and Synfuels Plants in Wyoming” study is an extensive and highly technical report that creates feasibility models for coal gasification and natural gas conversion plants in Wyoming and discusses the potential economic viability of those projects.
An executive summary discussing details and utilization of the models is now available on the Wyoming Business Council website or by contacting the State Energy Office at 307.777.2824. Organizations interested in previewing the models may make arrangements through the Wyoming Business Council. Specific modeling software and training are required to interpret the report and its results.
Wyoming Entrepreneur Small Business Development Center
The Wyoming Entrepreneur Small Business Development Center has received funding from the Small Business Jobs Act to offer up to five hours of professional HR consultation at no charge to small businesses. Our consultants are trained, experienced, SPHR Certified human resource professionals. Take advantage of this opportunity to solve your personnel problems. Contact Anya Petersen-Frey at (307) 632-6141 or e-mail her at apeter35@uywo.edu to schedule your appointment now. Wyoming Entrepreneur is a business consulting group, consisting of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and Market
Research Center. Our mission is to help Wyoming entrepreneurs succeed. Consulting and most market research services are free of charge to Wyoming residents.
Wyoming Entrepreneur is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Additional support comes from the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. For more information, visit our website, http://www.wyomingentrepreneur.biz.
Research Center. Our mission is to help Wyoming entrepreneurs succeed. Consulting and most market research services are free of charge to Wyoming residents.
Wyoming Entrepreneur is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Additional support comes from the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. For more information, visit our website, http://www.wyomingentrepreneur.biz.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Open House To Be Held Regarding the Green River Rock Springs Alternative Road
The City of Green River, in cooperation with the City of Rock Springs and Sweetwater County, will host a public open house scheduled to take place tonight from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the White
Mountain Library located at 2935 Sweetwater Drive in Rock Springs. Mike Brown, with Inberg-Miller Engineers, says the purpose of the open house is to provide an opportunity for the public to review and discuss project information for the proposed Green River-Rock Springs alternative road.
Brown says they have already received some feedback on the road project.
The open house will be informal and project team members from Inberg Miller Engineers, both cities and the County will be available to discuss the project one on one with citizens. A public comment form will also be available online at inberg-miller.com.
Mountain Library located at 2935 Sweetwater Drive in Rock Springs. Mike Brown, with Inberg-Miller Engineers, says the purpose of the open house is to provide an opportunity for the public to review and discuss project information for the proposed Green River-Rock Springs alternative road.
Brown says they have already received some feedback on the road project.
The open house will be informal and project team members from Inberg Miller Engineers, both cities and the County will be available to discuss the project one on one with citizens. A public comment form will also be available online at inberg-miller.com.
Former Wyoming Senate President Bob Grieve Dies
Bob Grieve, a former Wyoming Senate president who championed water development issues, died Friday afternoon in Arizona.
Grieve, 73, had been diagnosed with cancer earlier in the week at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tuscon, according to Renny MacKay, press secretary for Gov. Matt Mead. A rancher from Savery, Grieve served in the Wyoming Senate from 1987 until 1998. He served as Senate President his final two years in office.
Rich Cathcart, who served with Grieve in the Senate, said Grieve often led the charge for water development projects, particularly the High Savery Dam in Carbon County.
Grieve, 73, had been diagnosed with cancer earlier in the week at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tuscon, according to Renny MacKay, press secretary for Gov. Matt Mead. A rancher from Savery, Grieve served in the Wyoming Senate from 1987 until 1998. He served as Senate President his final two years in office.
Rich Cathcart, who served with Grieve in the Senate, said Grieve often led the charge for water development projects, particularly the High Savery Dam in Carbon County.
Wyoming Wildfires May Grow Larger
Fire managers say wildfires burning in northwest Wyoming have the potential to grow more this week. Three fires are burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest and one in the Shoshone National Forest. The Norton Point Fire, about 25 miles north of Dubois, is the biggest at about 23,000 acres. It is burning in dead trees. Two fires in the Gros Ventre Wilderness have burned about 10,000 acres. Firefighters are letting the fires burn for the most part although they have been taking some control measures on the more active Gray Hills Fire in the Gros Ventre. (gro vaunt)
Cheyenne Will Not Get a Menard's
It looks like Cheyenne will not be getting a Menards after all. Two weeks ago, the city council voted down the land to the company, but two council members were going to bring the issue back for a new vote Monday night. Those council members, Jim Brown and Georgia Broyles, changed their minds and did not reintroduce it. The reason? They say there are problems with the property title in question. Seems the county says they have an ownership in it too. The county said they would withdraw their claim if the land was used for parks and rec purposes which does not include a Menard's. So, now, it's up to the county and if they decide to give the city a clear title.
Western Planner of the Year
Mary Randolph, state coordinator of the Wyoming Main Street program and director of the Wyoming Rural Development Council, was recently awarded Western Planner of the Year.
The award was given by Western Planning Resources, Inc., an organization that provides community planning resources and a network for community planners around the West.
The Western Planner of the Year award honors individuals who have the fortitude, skills and humor necessary to be recognized practitioners and outspoken advocates on behalf of planning in the West. The award honors planners who have gained respect as fellow professionals, and identifies and recognizes the achievements that led to the winner’s selection.
Matt Ashby, president of WPR, said Randolph was chosen because of her efforts to improve and increase the planning capacity of communities around Wyoming through her work with the Wyoming Rural Development Council and the Wyoming Main Street program.
The mission of the Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. The Business Council, a state government agency, concentrates its efforts on providing assistance for existing Wyoming companies and start-ups, helping communities meet their development and diversification needs, and recruiting new firms and industries targeted to complement the state’s assets. For more information, please visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.
The award was given by Western Planning Resources, Inc., an organization that provides community planning resources and a network for community planners around the West.
The Western Planner of the Year award honors individuals who have the fortitude, skills and humor necessary to be recognized practitioners and outspoken advocates on behalf of planning in the West. The award honors planners who have gained respect as fellow professionals, and identifies and recognizes the achievements that led to the winner’s selection.
Matt Ashby, president of WPR, said Randolph was chosen because of her efforts to improve and increase the planning capacity of communities around Wyoming through her work with the Wyoming Rural Development Council and the Wyoming Main Street program.
The mission of the Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. The Business Council, a state government agency, concentrates its efforts on providing assistance for existing Wyoming companies and start-ups, helping communities meet their development and diversification needs, and recruiting new firms and industries targeted to complement the state’s assets. For more information, please visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.
Wyoming Woman Wins Western Planner of the Year Award
A Wyoming woman has been awarded the Western Planner of the Year award. Mary Randolph, state coordinator of the Wyoming Main Street program and director of the Wyoming Rural Development Council, was given the award by Western Planning Resources, Inc., an organization that provides community planning resources and a network for community planners around the West.
COPY:
The Western Planner of the Year award honors individuals who have the fortitude, skills and humor necessary to be recognized practitioners and outspoken advocates on behalf of planning in the West. The award honors planners who have gained respect as fellow professionals, and identifies and recognizes the achievements that led to the winner’s selection. Matt Ashby, president of WPR, said Randolph was chosen because of her efforts to improve and increase the planning capacity of communities around Wyoming through her work with the Wyoming Rural Development Council and the Wyoming Main Street program.
COPY:
The Western Planner of the Year award honors individuals who have the fortitude, skills and humor necessary to be recognized practitioners and outspoken advocates on behalf of planning in the West. The award honors planners who have gained respect as fellow professionals, and identifies and recognizes the achievements that led to the winner’s selection. Matt Ashby, president of WPR, said Randolph was chosen because of her efforts to improve and increase the planning capacity of communities around Wyoming through her work with the Wyoming Rural Development Council and the Wyoming Main Street program.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wyoming Grizzly Cubs at Ohio Zoo Need Names
Two grizzly cubs from Wyoming are now on exhibit at the Cleveland zoo, joining two other orphaned cubs from Montana. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo said Monday that the Wyoming cubs, which haven't been named yet, are being alternated in its bear exhibit with the Montana cubs, Cody and Cooper. Once they get used to one another, all four cubs will be shown together. The Wyoming cubs were sent to Cleveland in August and were first put in quarantine. Their mother was euthanized after being captured for the third time in the Shoshone River valley in northern Wyoming. The zoo is asking for the public's help in naming the new bears, just as it did with Cody and Cooper. People can vote at clemetzoo.com through Sept. 30.
Man First Convicted of 1984 Death Asks New Trial To Be Moved
Public defenders for the Montana man charged with killing a Jackson woman in 1984 have filed a motion asking for a change of venue. 48 year old Troy Willoughby was convicted last year and sentenced to life for the death of Elizabeth Miles Ehlers. Willoughby's attorneys asked and were granted a new trial back in June after they submitted a police report that had been withheld from the first trial. That report included information regarding Willoughby's whereabouts in the hours before Ehlers was killed. Now they are asking to move the new trial out of Sublette County.
Search Continues For Missing Inmate
A minimum-security inmate at the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp in Newcastle has escaped. The Wyoming Corrections Department says Derrick Lee Brock was found missing Friday morning while on work detail at the State Fairgrounds in Douglas. The Wyoming Department of Corrections has brought in multiple teams from all its facilities to assist in the search for Brock. Those teams are assisting local law enforcement with the many leads that have been developed on Brock's whereabouts. If anyone has any information pertaining to Brock, please contact local law enforcement immediately. He is 5 foot, 8 inches, approximately 170 lbs., fair complexion, white, blond hair and blue eyes. He is 40 years old. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a green shirt. He was discovered missing while on a work detail at the State Fairgrounds in Douglas Friday morning. Brock is serving a sentence for larceny.
Some Opposed to Laramie County's New Youth Detention Center Being Run From The Outside
Some members of the Laramie County Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board are opposed to the idea of an outside entity running the county's new youth detention center. They think the Laramie County Sheriff's Department is better equipped to run the facility that is under construction at the Archer Complex east of Cheyenne. The Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board is a 15-member group made up of representatives from law enforcement, the court system, school districts, mental health services, the city and the county. The purpose of the board is to help ensure that troubled youth receive services to get their lives back on track. The Laramie County Commission recently voted to seek proposals from private entities that may be interested in running the new 24-bed juvenile detention center, which may open in April.
More Cases of Listeriosis Reported in Wyoming From Tainted Cantaloupes
Two more cases of exposure to Listeria in Wyoming have been reported. Wyoming state health officials are investigating whether the death last week of a Sheridan County woman is related to contaminated cantaloupes from Colorado. Two other nonfatal cases of listeriosis in Laramie County have been tied to the cantaloupes. Symptoms of infection include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion and convulsions. More than 20 people have now become sick across several states and some have died from exposure to the tainted cantaloupe. Health officials are advising people not to eat "Rocky Ford" cantaloupe from Jensen Farms of Granada, Colo.
Grijalva, Garrington Talk About Wyoming Mining
Two Western Congressmen say more information is needed as Congress makes decisions about the federal budget, and about opening up more land in Wyoming and other states to mining and drilling - under the argument that it’s a good move for jobs and the economy. Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico - both Democrats - have made a request to the General Accounting Office for numbers related to development on federal lands - most of which are in the West. Rep. Grijalva says we already know that hardrock mining, including uranium, pays no federal royalties.
Debate about fees and royalties feature concerns from mining and drilling companies that if fees are too high, they'll go to other countries - or, pass costs on to consumers. Matt Garrington with the Checks and Balances Project says Wyomingites shouldn't be fooled by those threats.
Copper, oil, gas, coal, phosphate and gold are examples of minerals extracted from federal lands throughout the West that will be included in the report.
Debate about fees and royalties feature concerns from mining and drilling companies that if fees are too high, they'll go to other countries - or, pass costs on to consumers. Matt Garrington with the Checks and Balances Project says Wyomingites shouldn't be fooled by those threats.
Copper, oil, gas, coal, phosphate and gold are examples of minerals extracted from federal lands throughout the West that will be included in the report.
Enzi Comments on No Child Left Behind
U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today said President Obama’s proposed waivers of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law would undermine the policy making authority of Congress. “I am extremely disappointed that after spending so many hours working toward a solution, we have reached a point where the President appears to preempt our efforts with waivers. The best way to address these important issues is through legislation,” said Senator Enzi. “President Obama’s efforts represent a fundamental and dramatic shift in authority from Congress to the Administration. This action today clearly politicizes education policy, which traditionally has been a bipartisan issue that attracts support from both parties. It is the responsibility of Congress to develop policy and the President’s proposal is an attempt to affect change outside the legislative process.” Senator Enzi noted that historically waivers have been given to states to provide specific relief from federal regulations. He said this proposal will fundamentally change that process by requiring an entirely new set of accountability requirements for states applying for waivers.
Forced landing Of Airplane, Pilot OK
An Oklahoma man successfully carried out a forced landing in his private plane east of Rock Springs Friday morning.
Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell said Phillip Prigmore, 66, of Alva, Oklahoma, bought the 1968 single-engine Cessna Cardinal only yesterday in Salem, Oregon, and was flying it home alone when the crash occurred.
Officials said Prigmore flew into the Rock Springs Sweetwater County Airport Thursday night, refueled, and spent the night. He took off at about 9:58 AM on Friday and climbed to an altitude of about 7,300 feet, when he encountered engine trouble.
Prigmore tried to return to the airport but was unable to reach it. He made an 80-knot forced landing about one mile northeast of the runway, from which he emerged unhurt. The aircraft, however, sustained serious damage.
Haskell said Federal Aviation Administration officials were notified, and a team of investigators is expected to arrive in Sweetwater County this weekend.
Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell said Phillip Prigmore, 66, of Alva, Oklahoma, bought the 1968 single-engine Cessna Cardinal only yesterday in Salem, Oregon, and was flying it home alone when the crash occurred.
Officials said Prigmore flew into the Rock Springs Sweetwater County Airport Thursday night, refueled, and spent the night. He took off at about 9:58 AM on Friday and climbed to an altitude of about 7,300 feet, when he encountered engine trouble.
Prigmore tried to return to the airport but was unable to reach it. He made an 80-knot forced landing about one mile northeast of the runway, from which he emerged unhurt. The aircraft, however, sustained serious damage.
Haskell said Federal Aviation Administration officials were notified, and a team of investigators is expected to arrive in Sweetwater County this weekend.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Man Makes Forced Landing With Plane Near Rock Springs On Friday
An Oklahoma man successfully carried out a forced landing in his private plane east of Rock Springs Friday morning. Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's office says 66 year old Phillip Prigmore of Alva, Oklahoma had just bought the 1968 single-engine Cessna Cardinal on Thursday in Salem, Oregon.
Blust says that Prigmore was flying the plane home alone when the crash occurred.
Blust says that Federal Aviation Administration officials were notified, and a team of investigators arrive this past weekend. No word yet on the cause of the crash.
Blust says that Prigmore was flying the plane home alone when the crash occurred.
Blust says that Federal Aviation Administration officials were notified, and a team of investigators arrive this past weekend. No word yet on the cause of the crash.
Friday, September 23, 2011
BLM Monitoring Ferris Mountain Wildfire North of Rawlins
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Desert District is closely monitoring the Ferris Mountain wildfire approximately 40 miles north of Rawlins in the Ferris Mountain Wilderness Study Area. The wildfire was first reported on Wednesday and is a suspected holdover from a lightning strike in the area nine days earlier. Unseasonably hot and dry conditions allowed the fire to smolder and it has burned an estimated quarter acre of mixed conifers in steep, rocky terrain on the south side of Ferris Mountain southeast of Young’s Pass. The BLM has decided not to pursue active suppression of the wildfire due to the difficulty of providing for firefighter safety in the difficult terrain but will continue to monitor it on a daily basis. A management plan has been prepared in the event the wildfire increases in complexity and the BLM is prepared to use point protection if resources are threatened. Hunters and other outdoor recreationists are urged to use caution or avoid the area entirely since wildfire behavior can change suddenly and fire spread is unpredictable if high winds develop.
Green River Native Accused of Killing Her Baby
An Oklahoma woman originally from Green River remains the primary suspect in the death of her newborn baby, but she has not been jailed or charged because of a medical issue, Webster County officials said Wednesday.
Fort Dodge police identified Hillary Tyler, 31, of Mulhall, Okla., as the lone suspect in the death of the baby found in Room 225 of the Super 8 in Fort Dodge late Tuesday.
However, she was not formally charged or booked into the Webster County Jail after a medical issue developed, said Webster County Attorney Ricki Osborn.
The specific cause of the health issue was not released late Wednesday, but Osborn said the problem “was not mental,” and the problem is not believed to be life-threatening.
A news release issued by Fort Dodge police said Tyler would be charged with first-degree murder and was to make a 9 a.m. court appearance Wednesday. Neither event occurred, however, due to the medical problem. Tyler is not expected to be in court this morning, either.
Neither the specific cause of newborn’s death nor the baby’s gender was released Wednesday. Calls to the Iowa state medical examiner and the Webster County medical examiner were not returned.
Fort Dodge police identified Hillary Tyler, 31, of Mulhall, Okla., as the lone suspect in the death of the baby found in Room 225 of the Super 8 in Fort Dodge late Tuesday.
However, she was not formally charged or booked into the Webster County Jail after a medical issue developed, said Webster County Attorney Ricki Osborn.
The specific cause of the health issue was not released late Wednesday, but Osborn said the problem “was not mental,” and the problem is not believed to be life-threatening.
A news release issued by Fort Dodge police said Tyler would be charged with first-degree murder and was to make a 9 a.m. court appearance Wednesday. Neither event occurred, however, due to the medical problem. Tyler is not expected to be in court this morning, either.
Neither the specific cause of newborn’s death nor the baby’s gender was released Wednesday. Calls to the Iowa state medical examiner and the Webster County medical examiner were not returned.
GAO Request for Mining Revenues
Two Western Congressmen say more information is needed as Congress makes decisions about the federal budget, and about opening up more land in Wyoming and other states to mining and drilling - under the argument that it’s a good move for jobs and the economy. Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Senator Tom Udall of Colorado - both Democrats - have made a request to the General Accounting Office for numbers related to development on federal lands - most of which are in the West. Rep. Grijalva says we already know that hardrock mining, including uranium, pays no federal royalties.
Debate about fees and royalties feature concerns from mining and drilling companies that if fees are too high, they'll go to other countries - or, pass costs on to consumers. Matt Garrington with the Checks and Balances Project says Wyomingites shouldn't be fooled by those threats.
Copper, oil, gas, coal, phosphate and gold are examples of minerals extracted from federal lands throughout the West that will be included in the report.
Debate about fees and royalties feature concerns from mining and drilling companies that if fees are too high, they'll go to other countries - or, pass costs on to consumers. Matt Garrington with the Checks and Balances Project says Wyomingites shouldn't be fooled by those threats.
Copper, oil, gas, coal, phosphate and gold are examples of minerals extracted from federal lands throughout the West that will be included in the report.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wyoming Named a Partner in Conservation For Work With Sage-Grouse
Wyoming has been named one of 17 recipients of a Partners in Conservation award by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The award is to recognize Wyoming's effort to keep sage-grouse off of the endangered species list. Lucy Wold with the Wyoming Fish and Game Department office in Green River says the award recognizes the continued efforts the eight groups around the state that were formed in 2002-2003 specifically to protect the Sage-grouse.
In June Governor Mead signed the Sage-Grouse Core Area Protection Executive Order. It updated an Order signed by Governor Freudenthal providing more flexibility for management in the core areas. Governor Matt Mead said in a released statement that he hopes the award is an acknowledgment that Wyoming, the energy industry, agriculture producers and private landowners are significantly affected by this plan and deserve thanks for making sacrifices in support of it.
In June Governor Mead signed the Sage-Grouse Core Area Protection Executive Order. It updated an Order signed by Governor Freudenthal providing more flexibility for management in the core areas. Governor Matt Mead said in a released statement that he hopes the award is an acknowledgment that Wyoming, the energy industry, agriculture producers and private landowners are significantly affected by this plan and deserve thanks for making sacrifices in support of it.
Wyoming Recipient of a Partners in Conservation Award
Wyoming’s effort to keep sage-grouse off of the endangered species list was recognized by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. Wyoming was one of 17 recipients of a Partners in Conservation Award. Governor Matt Mead said in a released statement that he hopes the award is an acknowledgement that Wyoming, the energy industry, agriculture producers and private landowners are significantly affected by this plan, and deserve thanks for making sacrifices in their support of it.”
In June Governor Mead signed the Sage-Grouse Core Area Protection Executive Order. It updated an Order signed by Governor Freudenthal providing more flexibility for management in the core areas.
In June Governor Mead signed the Sage-Grouse Core Area Protection Executive Order. It updated an Order signed by Governor Freudenthal providing more flexibility for management in the core areas.
Renovations Continue to Jail
Work continues on the Sweetwater County Courthouse. Renovations and additions to the area formerly utilized as the Sweetwater County Jail, as well as the additional space, will make room for the new home for the Judge Victoria Schofield’s Circuit Court.
Chuck Radosevich, county facilities manager, said the $2.3 million project is expected to be completed in early November.
The project, which began this spring, was paid for mostly through a grant from the Wyoming State Lands and Investments Board, with Sweetwater County contributing 20 percent to the project.
Radosevich said the addition will complete the courthouse, which has had a vacant, under utilized area since the creation of the Sweetwater County Detention Center.
Chuck Radosevich, county facilities manager, said the $2.3 million project is expected to be completed in early November.
The project, which began this spring, was paid for mostly through a grant from the Wyoming State Lands and Investments Board, with Sweetwater County contributing 20 percent to the project.
Radosevich said the addition will complete the courthouse, which has had a vacant, under utilized area since the creation of the Sweetwater County Detention Center.
Crash Through Bar Door
A local bar has a new drive thru thanks to a driver who may have had one too many warrants to stick around the scene of the crash. According to a release from the Rock Springs Police Department, 31-year-old Angela Vieyra allegedly crashed the vehicle into through the front door of The World Famous Astro Lounge at 822 Pilot Butte Ave., resulting in damage to the structure of the building as well as Vieyra’s minivan. Vieyra allegedly left the scene of the crash on foot before RSPD officers and a deputy from the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office arrived. Vieyra was later located and issued several citations before being arrested on two active warrants unrelated to the crash. She is currently in custody at the Sweetwater County Detention Center. Vieyra, along with two unidentified Astro Lounge patrons, received minor injuries from the crash. They were all treated and released from Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County.
Resident Supports Ice Rink in Green River
How about that Ice Rink in Green River? One resident spoke about the plan to the city council Tuesday night. Kelly Davis is in support for the rink. She said members of the Sweetwater County Figure Skating Association fight for ice time while the natural ice rink at the Rock Springs Recreation Center is operating. Despite being an artificial polymer, which does not melt, the fake ice would work just as well as the real thing for figure skating and hockey, Davis said. Many skaters are forced to travel to Salt Lake City for ice time during the summer months, when the Rock Springs Recreation Center closes its rink and Davis thinks this would be a good opportunity for the city to give ice skaters a year round facility. Because of the lack of local ice, skaters and hockey players in Sweetwater County are at a disadvantage in regional competitions. “We’re losing out because we don’t have the ice time available,” Davis said. She added the rink would bring other groups into the area. Councilman Tom McCullough suggested Davis provide a petition with at least 500 names in support of the rink’s creation.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
BLM To Conduct Prescribed Burns
If you hadn't noticed, the Bureau of Land Management is starting to conduct prescribed fires with the Rawlings and Rocks Springs field office areas. About 500 acres were burned on Monday at Morgan Creek, an area 25 miles south of Rawlins. Three more areas are scheduled to be burned, weather permitting, sometime this fall. Shelley Gregory with the BLM says those areas include Marking Pen Creek 25 miles northeast of Rawlins, Iron Mountain which is 30 miles northwest of Cheyenne and Little Red Creek east of Flaming Gorge Reservoir and south of Rock Springs.
Gregory says you can view the fires, but only if you are in a safe place.
If you have any questions, you are encouraged to call your local BLM office.
Gregory says you can view the fires, but only if you are in a safe place.
If you have any questions, you are encouraged to call your local BLM office.
Fall Clean-Up Days Set For Green River - List of Requirements
Fall Clean-Up Week for Green River has been scheduled for October 17-21.
o Items will be collected on your normal collection day.
o Place the items near, but do not block, your automated trash container.
o The truck will run separately from the regular automated collection truck. Do not be alarmed if your trash can is dumped before the other items are removed.
o Excessive loads will be charged. This will be at the driver’s discretion.
o Please separate metal from other items for pick up. Metal will be picked up separately.
o Refrigerators and freezers will be collected at no charge. Doors must be removed and all food must be emptied out of the refrigerators/freezers.
o Tree limbs must be cut into 4 foot sections.
o Used oil, railroad ties, tires, batteries, paint, tree stumps, and other hazardous materials will not be collected. Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held in the spring of 2012, or call 872-0531 for daily disposal of these items.
o Items will be collected on your normal collection day.
o Place the items near, but do not block, your automated trash container.
o The truck will run separately from the regular automated collection truck. Do not be alarmed if your trash can is dumped before the other items are removed.
o Excessive loads will be charged. This will be at the driver’s discretion.
o Please separate metal from other items for pick up. Metal will be picked up separately.
o Refrigerators and freezers will be collected at no charge. Doors must be removed and all food must be emptied out of the refrigerators/freezers.
o Tree limbs must be cut into 4 foot sections.
o Used oil, railroad ties, tires, batteries, paint, tree stumps, and other hazardous materials will not be collected. Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held in the spring of 2012, or call 872-0531 for daily disposal of these items.
Artifacts Older than Expected
Some of more than 40,000 artifacts recently discovered at the mouth of Game Creek suggest prehistoric people might have lived in Jackson Hole year round, archeologists say. Further, radio-carbon dating shows that some of the unearthed artifacts are thousands of years older than expected. Archeologists began excavating the site last summer after the Wyoming Department of Transportation made plans to widen Highway 26/89/191.
City Council Report
There was a six figure disagreement at tuesday nights city council meeting, Erick Pauley has the story
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Guitarist Eric Michaels To Perform Free Concert In Green River
Guitarist Eric Michaels is returning to our area for a free concert at 7 pm Friday. Chris Kennedy, an Associate Professor of Communication at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs says he was able to bring Michaels back for the concert thanks to a grant from the Westwick Foundation.
According to Kennedy, Michaels used to be a part of the folk scene back in the 60s and 70s. He has also opened for acts such as Steve Goodman and Anne Murray. He is currently best known for his water color and oil paintings. Kennedy says you will want to come early to get a seat.
The concert takes places at the Sweetwater County Library located at 300 North First Street East in Green River.
According to Kennedy, Michaels used to be a part of the folk scene back in the 60s and 70s. He has also opened for acts such as Steve Goodman and Anne Murray. He is currently best known for his water color and oil paintings. Kennedy says you will want to come early to get a seat.
The concert takes places at the Sweetwater County Library located at 300 North First Street East in Green River.
Kids Sleep Deprived
Kids today are commonly sleep-deprived, and a new study shows it's connected to how much time they spend inside and plugged into electronics. Kevin Coyle with National Wildlife Federation authored the report. He says a generation ago, kids spent hours outdoors playing and interacting with others, but today, the average child and teen in Wyoming spends up to eight hours per day on the computer, on their cell phone, playing video games or watching television.
Emily McKhann is the co founder of TheMotherhood.com, an online community for moms. She has two young daughters and acknowledges it is not always easy for parents to find time to make sure children are getting time outside, but it's important to find a way to work it in.
Coyle says on average, kids ages eight to 18 are losing between ten and 14 hours of sleep per week because they are over-stimulated by electronic use. He says some ways parents can help kids obtain more balance is to make sure they're getting exercise outdoors – the natural light helps promote sleep – and try to get kids unplugged from computers, cell phones and TVs at least an hour before bedtime.
Emily McKhann is the co founder of TheMotherhood.com, an online community for moms. She has two young daughters and acknowledges it is not always easy for parents to find time to make sure children are getting time outside, but it's important to find a way to work it in.
Coyle says on average, kids ages eight to 18 are losing between ten and 14 hours of sleep per week because they are over-stimulated by electronic use. He says some ways parents can help kids obtain more balance is to make sure they're getting exercise outdoors – the natural light helps promote sleep – and try to get kids unplugged from computers, cell phones and TVs at least an hour before bedtime.
Green River Fall Clean Up
Fall Clean-Up Week for Green River has been scheduled for October 17-21
o Items will be collected on your normal collection day.
o Place the items near, but do not block, your automated trash container.
o The truck will run separately from the regular automated collection truck. Do not be alarmed if your trash can is dumped before the other items are removed.
o Excessive loads will be charged. This will be at the driver’s discretion.
o Please separate metal from other items for pick up. Metal will be picked up separately.
o Refrigerators and freezers will be collected at no charge. Doors must be removed and all food must be emptied out of the refrigerators/freezers.
o Tree limbs must be cut into 4 foot sections.
o Used oil, railroad ties, tires, batteries, paint, tree stumps, and other hazardous materials will not be collected. Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held in the spring of 2012, or call 872-0531 for daily disposal of these items.
o The City of Green River will allow free Landfill access to local business and/or contractors who clean up their storage yards. Free access to the Landfill will be from Saturday, May 15 through Saturday, May 22, 2011. Businesses must notify Scalehouse Operator of Clean Up Week waste. Landfill hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please ensure you have ample time to dump your load and be out the gate by 5:00 pm.
o Items will be collected on your normal collection day.
o Place the items near, but do not block, your automated trash container.
o The truck will run separately from the regular automated collection truck. Do not be alarmed if your trash can is dumped before the other items are removed.
o Excessive loads will be charged. This will be at the driver’s discretion.
o Please separate metal from other items for pick up. Metal will be picked up separately.
o Refrigerators and freezers will be collected at no charge. Doors must be removed and all food must be emptied out of the refrigerators/freezers.
o Tree limbs must be cut into 4 foot sections.
o Used oil, railroad ties, tires, batteries, paint, tree stumps, and other hazardous materials will not be collected. Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held in the spring of 2012, or call 872-0531 for daily disposal of these items.
o The City of Green River will allow free Landfill access to local business and/or contractors who clean up their storage yards. Free access to the Landfill will be from Saturday, May 15 through Saturday, May 22, 2011. Businesses must notify Scalehouse Operator of Clean Up Week waste. Landfill hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please ensure you have ample time to dump your load and be out the gate by 5:00 pm.
New Game Bounddaries
Baggs Game Warden Kim Olson says a redrawing of elk and deer hunting boundaries
for two areas in southwest Carbon County is unlikely to result in significant gains or losses for local hunters. Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials recently redefined the eastern boundaries of deer hunt areas 84 and 82, which are identical to elk hunt areas 108 and 21. Flanked by Wyoming Highway 789 to the west, the eastern boundary for hunt areas 84 and 108 now extends down Sage Creek Road to McCarty Canyon Road. “The old hunt area boundary used to follow County Road 401 to Sage Creek, where it would meet up with the Rawlins City Reservoir,” said Olson. “The old boundary was not distinct and only local hunters were familiar with the road names. The result was hunters would find themselves inadvertently in violation by hunting in the wrong area. The new boundary was moved to what most people refer to as the McCarty Canyon Road, or Carbon County Road 503. We believe this is an easier boundary for hunters to follow and understand and should reduce the number of boundary violations.” As for the new boundaries and hunting acreage, Olson said the differences are slight. “The boundary change reduces elk hunt area 21 and deer hunt area 82 a little bit and it increases elk hunt area 108 and deer hunt area 84 by that much,” Olson said. “It’s just a little sliver. The difference averages out to 1.5 miles.” Deer and elk hunters should refer to the Wyoming deer and elk hunting regulations for detailed hunting information. Hunters may also call Olson at 307-383-2160 or Rawlins Game Warden Bill Brinegar at 307-324-2973.
for two areas in southwest Carbon County is unlikely to result in significant gains or losses for local hunters. Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials recently redefined the eastern boundaries of deer hunt areas 84 and 82, which are identical to elk hunt areas 108 and 21. Flanked by Wyoming Highway 789 to the west, the eastern boundary for hunt areas 84 and 108 now extends down Sage Creek Road to McCarty Canyon Road. “The old hunt area boundary used to follow County Road 401 to Sage Creek, where it would meet up with the Rawlins City Reservoir,” said Olson. “The old boundary was not distinct and only local hunters were familiar with the road names. The result was hunters would find themselves inadvertently in violation by hunting in the wrong area. The new boundary was moved to what most people refer to as the McCarty Canyon Road, or Carbon County Road 503. We believe this is an easier boundary for hunters to follow and understand and should reduce the number of boundary violations.” As for the new boundaries and hunting acreage, Olson said the differences are slight. “The boundary change reduces elk hunt area 21 and deer hunt area 82 a little bit and it increases elk hunt area 108 and deer hunt area 84 by that much,” Olson said. “It’s just a little sliver. The difference averages out to 1.5 miles.” Deer and elk hunters should refer to the Wyoming deer and elk hunting regulations for detailed hunting information. Hunters may also call Olson at 307-383-2160 or Rawlins Game Warden Bill Brinegar at 307-324-2973.
Wyoming National Guard Soldiers Prepare For Deployment
Twenty-four Wyoming Army National Guard soldiers are about to deploy to Kosovo and Bosnia for a year.
The members of Detachment Three, B Company, 777th Aviation, will be providing aviation maintenance service for a unit of the North Dakota Army National Guard.
A deployment ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Joint Forces Readiness Center Auditorium in Cheyenne.
The deploying soldiers are from Cheyenne, Green River, Laramie, Powell, Sheridan, Wheatland and Torrington and from the city of North Platte in Nebraska.
The members of Detachment Three, B Company, 777th Aviation, will be providing aviation maintenance service for a unit of the North Dakota Army National Guard.
A deployment ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Joint Forces Readiness Center Auditorium in Cheyenne.
The deploying soldiers are from Cheyenne, Green River, Laramie, Powell, Sheridan, Wheatland and Torrington and from the city of North Platte in Nebraska.
Platte County Attorney Named Leader of Wyoming Bar Association
Platte County Attorney Eric Jones is the new leader of the Wyoming Bar Association. Members elected Jones as their new president last week at the bar's annual business meeting to succeed Brian Hultman of Jackson. Jones is a Wheatland native who worked as CPA in Denver before returning to his home state to study law at the University of Wyoming. He was appointed Platte County attorney in 2007 and also works in private practice.
Missing Sublette Woman Found Dead
The body of a Sublette County woman missing since August has been discovered by a hiker.
Authorities said Monday that 57-year-old Paula McNeel of Bondurant was found Saturday in the area of the Upper Hoback west of Bare Creek. She'd been missing since Aug. 27.
There was no immediate cause of death, and officials didn't say how long they think she's been dead. The Sublette County Sheriff's Office said an autopsy is planned.
McNeels' disappearance launched a search by volunteers, dog teams and a helicopter.
Authorities said Monday that 57-year-old Paula McNeel of Bondurant was found Saturday in the area of the Upper Hoback west of Bare Creek. She'd been missing since Aug. 27.
There was no immediate cause of death, and officials didn't say how long they think she's been dead. The Sublette County Sheriff's Office said an autopsy is planned.
McNeels' disappearance launched a search by volunteers, dog teams and a helicopter.
Mills Man Pleads Guilty To Killing 7 Month Old
A 19-year-old Mills man accused of shaking and squeezing his live-in girlfriend's 7-month-old son to death has entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder.
Matthew Hankins entered his plea in District Court on Monday. Under an Alford plea, he does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. In exchange for the plea, two other charges were dismissed.
Hankins is accused of smoking marijuana and taking prescription medication before going to sleep the night of April 19. Prosecutors say the crying infant woke him up and Hankins shook and squeezed the baby for about five minutes.
The infant was found unconscious the following morning.
Matthew Hankins entered his plea in District Court on Monday. Under an Alford plea, he does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. In exchange for the plea, two other charges were dismissed.
Hankins is accused of smoking marijuana and taking prescription medication before going to sleep the night of April 19. Prosecutors say the crying infant woke him up and Hankins shook and squeezed the baby for about five minutes.
The infant was found unconscious the following morning.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Flu Clinics Offer Twenty Dollar Vaccines Thursday and Friday
Flu Clinics are now being offered by Sweetwater County Community Nursing. The first is this Thursday from 7 AM to 5:30 PM at 550 Uinta Suite E in Green River. Public Health Nurse Jean Brunz says that while everyone is encouraged to get a shot, not everyone should.
Brunz says some people may experience a slight reaction to the vaccine.
Brunz says the symptoms from the shot are nothing compared to the symptoms of the flu. The second clinic will be held at 731 “C” Street Suite 315 from 7 AM to 5PM on Friday. Shots are $20 each and some insurance companies may cover that cost.
Brunz says some people may experience a slight reaction to the vaccine.
Brunz says the symptoms from the shot are nothing compared to the symptoms of the flu. The second clinic will be held at 731 “C” Street Suite 315 from 7 AM to 5PM on Friday. Shots are $20 each and some insurance companies may cover that cost.
Cheyenne Office Involved Shooting
A Cheyenne Police Officer attempted to make a routine traffic stop of a vehicle near 4th Street and Parsley Boulevard. The vehicle failed to stop for the officer and attempted to elude. A short pursuit ensued, resulting in the suspect vehicle being stopped near the 300 Block of Stinson Avenue. Other officers arrived at the scene; where shots were fired, resulting in the injury of the suspect male driver.
Listeria Reported in Wyoming
On Thursday a man from Laramie County was hospitalized after eating cantaloupe believed to be contaminated with listeria.
The contaminated cantaloupe was grown in the Rocky Ford region of southern Colorado. So far two people have died from eating them and more than 20 have been hospitalized. Symptoms of infection include fever, muscle ache, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion and convulsions.
News Channel Five contacted King Soopers, Safeway, Albertsons and Wal-Mart in Cheyenne. All said they either pulled the Rocky Ford Cantaloupe from their shelves or didn't order it to begin with.
The contaminated cantaloupe was grown in the Rocky Ford region of southern Colorado. So far two people have died from eating them and more than 20 have been hospitalized. Symptoms of infection include fever, muscle ache, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion and convulsions.
News Channel Five contacted King Soopers, Safeway, Albertsons and Wal-Mart in Cheyenne. All said they either pulled the Rocky Ford Cantaloupe from their shelves or didn't order it to begin with.
Flu Clinic
Sweetwater County Community Nursing will be offering an office flu clinic in both
Rock Springs and Green River offices. Dates and times are as follows:
Rock Springs Community Nursing Office
731 “C” Street Suite 315
Rock Springs (307)922-5390
Friday, September 23rd 7:00am-5:30pm
Green River
550 Uinta Suite “E”
Green River (307)872-3944
Thursday, September 22nd 7:30am-5:30pm
Cost of the vaccine is $20.00. Medicare and Medicaid will be billed.
Rock Springs and Green River offices. Dates and times are as follows:
Rock Springs Community Nursing Office
731 “C” Street Suite 315
Rock Springs (307)922-5390
Friday, September 23rd 7:00am-5:30pm
Green River
550 Uinta Suite “E”
Green River (307)872-3944
Thursday, September 22nd 7:30am-5:30pm
Cost of the vaccine is $20.00. Medicare and Medicaid will be billed.
U.S. Postal Consolidation Could Save Billions
The U.S. Postal Service is consolidating operations around the country as more people resort to email as their primary means of written communication.
COPY:
Rawlins, Wheatland and Rock Springs are among more than 250 sites the Postal Service is studying. The four-month long study in Rawlins is expected to extend into early 2012 and designed to weigh the efficiency of moving operations to a processing center in Cheyenne. Wheatland’s sorting operations could be similarly dispatched while Rock Springs’ would go to Salt Lake City. National consolidation efforts stand to save the Postal Service $3 billion annually. When sorting operations in Gillette, Riverton, Worland and Sheridan are moved to Casper in October, the Postal Service expects to save $330,000.
COPY:
Rawlins, Wheatland and Rock Springs are among more than 250 sites the Postal Service is studying. The four-month long study in Rawlins is expected to extend into early 2012 and designed to weigh the efficiency of moving operations to a processing center in Cheyenne. Wheatland’s sorting operations could be similarly dispatched while Rock Springs’ would go to Salt Lake City. National consolidation efforts stand to save the Postal Service $3 billion annually. When sorting operations in Gillette, Riverton, Worland and Sheridan are moved to Casper in October, the Postal Service expects to save $330,000.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Remains Found are that of an Animal Say Laramie Co Authorities
The Albany County Coroner's Office says the remains found during the search for a 71-year-old man who went missing near Centennial this summer came from a dead animal.
The Laramie Boomerang reported Thursday that the conclusion was made by the University of Wyoming's anthropology department.
Crews have been searching for the body of Keith William Lantz, who has been missing since he reportedly fell into the Little Laramie River on July 3.
The remains were found over the weekend.
The Laramie Boomerang reported Thursday that the conclusion was made by the University of Wyoming's anthropology department.
Crews have been searching for the body of Keith William Lantz, who has been missing since he reportedly fell into the Little Laramie River on July 3.
The remains were found over the weekend.
park City Power Lines to be Upgraded
As part of the effort to plan for additional customers and increased power consumption, Rocky Mountain Power is upgrading and rebuilding existing power lines throughout Summit County. Rocky Mountain Power and its parent company, PacifiCorp., will be upgrading various power lines to handle 138,000 volts of electricity instead of the current 46,000 volts. Existing power poles will be replaced and may look different, according to Rocky Mountain Power spokesman Jeff Hymas, but will not resemble main grid transmission lines. Power lines around Park City will be upgraded as well as those that run from Evanston, Wyoming to the Snyderville Basin and the line from Kamas to Oakley. The Park City substation will be upgraded and the substation in Coalville is slated to be completely rebuilt, according to Hymas.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
United Way Cancels Running For Reading 5 K Run
United Way of Southwest Wyoming has canceled the 2nd Annual United Way Running For Reading 5K to benefit Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Southwest Wyoming.. Marketing and Communications Director Kelly Frink says the decision was made because of how many 5 Ks are currently being held.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Southwest Wyoming provides kids ages 0 to 4 a free book in their home. Frink says a recent fundraiser helped in supporting the program.
Frink says the United Way will continue to write grants for the program and is also exploring other funding options.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Southwest Wyoming provides kids ages 0 to 4 a free book in their home. Frink says a recent fundraiser helped in supporting the program.
Frink says the United Way will continue to write grants for the program and is also exploring other funding options.
Former three-term Sen. Malcolm Wallop passes
Former three-term Sen. Malcolm Wallop, who became a leading conservative voice during the Reagan era in fighting for space defense and a tough anti-communist policy in Central America, died Wednesday. He was 78.
Kerrie Kimmel of the Kane Funeral Home said Wallop died at his home near the small community of Big Horn in northern Wyoming. Family friend and Cody Enterprise Publisher Bruce McCormack said Wallop has been ill for the last couple of years.
The Republican served in the Senate from 1977 to 1995 and had an unusual resume for a western politician. He was part of the third generation of a Wyoming pioneer family, he graduated from Yale University, and his grandfather served in the British House of Lords.
Kerrie Kimmel of the Kane Funeral Home said Wallop died at his home near the small community of Big Horn in northern Wyoming. Family friend and Cody Enterprise Publisher Bruce McCormack said Wallop has been ill for the last couple of years.
The Republican served in the Senate from 1977 to 1995 and had an unusual resume for a western politician. He was part of the third generation of a Wyoming pioneer family, he graduated from Yale University, and his grandfather served in the British House of Lords.
Carcass Testing
Wildlife officials will be testing game carcasses in southwestern Wyoming this hunting season to get a better understanding of populations in the area and to study diseases and parasites in animals. Lucy Diggins-Wold with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department says testing is performed every year, but for the second year, the focus will be on moose. The Casper Star-Tribune reports that, according to research from the department and its wildlife diseases laboratory in Laramie, moose populations throughout the world have been declining. This is especially the case in southern populations, which includes Wyoming. No single cause has been identified, but reduced habitat quality and increased parasite loads could be playing a role.
New Sculptures Adorn City
The Green River City Council recently approved the purchase of three sculptures during a recent meeting. “Suspended” has three poles holding a silver ball and was purchased from artist Kyle Ashley of Utah for $7,000. That sculpture will be placed at the corner of Monroe Street and Uinta Drive according to Recreation Supervisor Katie Duncombe. Another sculpture called “Bugged” by Lani Andrews of Loveland, Colo., was purchased for $740. This piece is displayed at the intersection of Flaming Gorge Way and Uinta Drive. The third is called “Sprouting Bud” created by Barbara Kobylinska of Virginia. It came with a price tag of $4,000. The sculpture was by the post office, but its new home will be in Centennial Park.
Alcohol Arrests Studyt
Alcohol plays a part in 72 percent of all arrests made in Wyoming, thats according to a new study from Johnson and Associates, a consulting firm studying the effects of alcohol on crime rates in Wyoming. Ernie Johnson, director of services for Johnson and Associate, spoke at an invitation-only gathering of politicians and policy makers Tuesday afternoon in an attempt to galvanize the group into creating a community initiative to change local and state laws to curtail the abuse of alcohol. According to statistics gathered by the University of Wyoming, in 2010, there were 18,946 arrests in Wyoming. Of those arrests, 76.9 percent were male, 20.88 percent were female and another 2.22 percent were listed as “unknown sex,” which Johnson attributed to the arresting officer not checking a box on while filing the arrest report. Of those arrests, 10 percent were out of state visitors while 6 percent were of in-state visitors.
Volunteers are needed for the fourth annual University of Wyoming College of Law voir dire competition
Wyomingites are being offered a peek behind-the-scenes in the court system this weekend...by serving on a jury. Volunteers are needed for the fourth annual University of Wyoming College of Law voir dire competition - where the next generation of lawyers will hone their skills in selecting juries for civil and criminal trials. Cheyenne attorney Lori Brand came up with the idea for the competition. She explains that lawyers have to 'unlearn' some of the things they learn in law school in order to be successful in selecting jurors who are willing to listen fairly to a client's story...
Marcia Shanor with the W-T-L-A says while the event was designed to help train law students, it also educates the public..
Lori Brand says tort reform, corporate limited liabilities and forced arbitration are often hot political debate topics, but she says the public needs to understand that those things infringe on personal rights and the ability to hold companies, people, and government accountable...
The Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association sponsors the event Saturday, where teams of students compete. Anyone in the Laramie area can commit to a morning or afternoon session, or stay all day.
Marcia Shanor with the W-T-L-A says while the event was designed to help train law students, it also educates the public..
Lori Brand says tort reform, corporate limited liabilities and forced arbitration are often hot political debate topics, but she says the public needs to understand that those things infringe on personal rights and the ability to hold companies, people, and government accountable...
The Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association sponsors the event Saturday, where teams of students compete. Anyone in the Laramie area can commit to a morning or afternoon session, or stay all day.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Vandals Cause Damage To New Rock Springs Junior High Football Field
Vandals have struck the new football field at Rock Springs Junior high. Rock Springs police say two male juveniles on a motorcycle entered the junior high football field on September 13th (tuesday) and rode across the track, which had fresh black tar on it causing the tar to get smeared on the new artificial turf football field. Police describe the juveniles as being under the age of 16, one of which was wearing a helmet. The motorcycle is described as a dirt bike with white on it, possibly near the gas tank. The football field and track is a two million dollar project. If you have information, your asked to call the rock springs police department at 352-1575.
Kokonee Salmon Are Spawning: Please Don't Snag The Fish
The kokanee salmon are spawning in the Green River and officials with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are asking everyone to avoid the temptation to snag them. Green River Information and Education Officer Lucy Wold says not only is it illegal to do so, but it also would be harmful to the fish population.
Wold is hoping that parents will take the opportunity to tell their kids about the fish, but also remind them not to try to catch them.
Kokanee are fall spawners and begin running the Green River in late August. The fish can only spawn in a river or stream. Anglers on both the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir should be aware of the following closures: All kokanee caught from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30 on Flaming Gorge Reservoir must be released and returned to the water immediately. The possession or use of gaffs for landing fish is prohibited. Fishing on the Green River from the Fontenelle Dam downstream (one mile) to the USGS Gauge Station (Cable Crossing) is CLOSED Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.
Wold is hoping that parents will take the opportunity to tell their kids about the fish, but also remind them not to try to catch them.
Kokanee are fall spawners and begin running the Green River in late August. The fish can only spawn in a river or stream. Anglers on both the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir should be aware of the following closures: All kokanee caught from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30 on Flaming Gorge Reservoir must be released and returned to the water immediately. The possession or use of gaffs for landing fish is prohibited. Fishing on the Green River from the Fontenelle Dam downstream (one mile) to the USGS Gauge Station (Cable Crossing) is CLOSED Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.
School Board Meeting
The School Board had its monthly meeting last night, Erick Pauley has the story
Kokanee Spawning- Snagging Warning
The kokanee salmon are spawning in the Green River. If you are even the slightest bit tempted to snag one of those large, red, spawning kokanee, a word to the wise - don’t
Snagging is an attempt to take a fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its mouth. In the “old days” it was legal to snag fish and consequently, many vulnerable spawning fish were taken. Snagging fish in Wyoming is illegal. Each year Wyoming Game and Fish Department game wardens issue warnings and citations for snagging kokanee on the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The Game and Fish is asking for help from parents to get the message across to children, as most warnings are typically “Early run kokanee are starting to change color and congregate in some of their favorite spawning areas in Flaming Gorge Reservoir,” says Green River Game Warden Duane Kerr. “Anglers who aggressively jig for kokanee this time of year should be aware that snagging kokanee or any fish is illegal. So far, we haven’t had any trouble with people snagging kokanee and that is a Kokanee are fall spawners and begin running the Green River in late August. There are now two distinct strains of kokanee in the Green River, an early run strain, which spawns in September, and a late run strain, which spawns in October. The spawning fish can’t eat, as their stomach is absorbed. After spawning is complete, all kokanee die. Their decaying carcasses supply nutrients for other plant and animal life, as well as their offspring when they hatch. The early spawning runs are a direct result of fingerling kokanee planted in Flaming Gorge Reservoir since 1992 by the Game and Fish. These fish can only spawn in a river or stream. Since they were raised at the Auburn Fish Hatchery, the kokanee are basically “lost,” and don’t know which stream they should run to spawn. Some imprinting occurs to the area where the fish were stocked, and some fish are able to locate the Green River.
Snagging is an attempt to take a fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its mouth. In the “old days” it was legal to snag fish and consequently, many vulnerable spawning fish were taken. Snagging fish in Wyoming is illegal. Each year Wyoming Game and Fish Department game wardens issue warnings and citations for snagging kokanee on the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The Game and Fish is asking for help from parents to get the message across to children, as most warnings are typically “Early run kokanee are starting to change color and congregate in some of their favorite spawning areas in Flaming Gorge Reservoir,” says Green River Game Warden Duane Kerr. “Anglers who aggressively jig for kokanee this time of year should be aware that snagging kokanee or any fish is illegal. So far, we haven’t had any trouble with people snagging kokanee and that is a Kokanee are fall spawners and begin running the Green River in late August. There are now two distinct strains of kokanee in the Green River, an early run strain, which spawns in September, and a late run strain, which spawns in October. The spawning fish can’t eat, as their stomach is absorbed. After spawning is complete, all kokanee die. Their decaying carcasses supply nutrients for other plant and animal life, as well as their offspring when they hatch. The early spawning runs are a direct result of fingerling kokanee planted in Flaming Gorge Reservoir since 1992 by the Game and Fish. These fish can only spawn in a river or stream. Since they were raised at the Auburn Fish Hatchery, the kokanee are basically “lost,” and don’t know which stream they should run to spawn. Some imprinting occurs to the area where the fish were stocked, and some fish are able to locate the Green River.
9 11 Ceremony
The Green River fire department held a special ceremony on 9/11, the tolling of the bells signifies the way in which fallen New York Firefighters are honored
Viborg and Hurley to Combine Districts
Viborg and Hurley schools districts say they wil consolodate after voters approved the plan. In Viborg, the measure passed with 64 percent of the vote. In Hurley, 92 percent of the voters chose to consolidate the districts.
Pre-K through 4th grades, along with 9th through 12th grades will be in Viborg. 5th through 8th grades will be in Hurley. The changes will be effective July 1, 2012 according to a report from KDLT.
Pre-K through 4th grades, along with 9th through 12th grades will be in Viborg. 5th through 8th grades will be in Hurley. The changes will be effective July 1, 2012 according to a report from KDLT.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
National Public Lands Day Event At Overland Trail
Our public lands are simply that... our lands. That is why the Bureau of Land Management Rock Springs office is inviting everyone to come out to the Overland Trail interpretive site on September 24th to do some much needed work as part of National Public Lands Day. Shelley Gregory with the BLM says the day is a growing opportunity for volunteerism.
Work will include installing trail markers, removing litter and completing a walkway. From 1862 to 1868, the trail was the only emigrant route allowed by the Government. Gregory says this is your opportunity to help preserve that history for generations to come. Wear proper work attire, closed toe shoes and safety glasses. The event will take place from 9 Am to Noon. Overland Trail is located on the Reagan Avenue side of Sage Elementary School in Rock Springs.
Work will include installing trail markers, removing litter and completing a walkway. From 1862 to 1868, the trail was the only emigrant route allowed by the Government. Gregory says this is your opportunity to help preserve that history for generations to come. Wear proper work attire, closed toe shoes and safety glasses. The event will take place from 9 Am to Noon. Overland Trail is located on the Reagan Avenue side of Sage Elementary School in Rock Springs.
Monday, September 12, 2011
The State Will Bring Ethernet to Thousands of Students Currently Without It
Just last week, Governor Matt Mead announced that a contract agreement with CenturyLink will now mean that two thirds of Wyoming students will have Ethernet broadband access at their schools before the end of 2011. The announcement includes Rawlins, Rock Springs and Green River. Sweetwater County School District number 2 Superintendant Donna Little-Kaumo says the announcement will bring welcome relief to the district.
Wyoming has a total of 88, 165 students and the announcement will impact 83 percent of them. Little-Kaumo says that is the best part of all.
While Mead has said the change will take place before the end of 2011, Little-Kaumo believes it may take a little longer than that, but she is expecting it to take place within a year.
Wyoming has a total of 88, 165 students and the announcement will impact 83 percent of them. Little-Kaumo says that is the best part of all.
While Mead has said the change will take place before the end of 2011, Little-Kaumo believes it may take a little longer than that, but she is expecting it to take place within a year.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Labor Day Arrest Following Series of Serious Incidents
Over the Labor Day Weekend, a Utah man was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault and Battery, Reckless Endangering, Reckless Driving, and Duty to Report Upon Colliding With Unattended Vehicle or Property following a series of incidents. Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell said Deputy Sheriff Matt Rushing responded at about 6:35 PM on September 4th to a Red Cliff Circle address just north of the Utah-Wyoming border.
Witnesses say that Jeffrey Charles Kirk, 33, of Murray, Utah, had been arguing with his mother, Marilyn Byrd, who has a cabin in the area, when he allegedly threatened to kill her, and pointed a gun at her. Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office says that in addition, Kirk had been driving recklessly in the area, threatened neighbors, threatened suicide, drove into a residential fence, and fired several shots with a handgun into the air and at his own pickup.
Kirk remains in custody at the Sweetwater County Detention Center in lieu of a $50,000 cash or surety bond.
Witnesses say that Jeffrey Charles Kirk, 33, of Murray, Utah, had been arguing with his mother, Marilyn Byrd, who has a cabin in the area, when he allegedly threatened to kill her, and pointed a gun at her. Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office says that in addition, Kirk had been driving recklessly in the area, threatened neighbors, threatened suicide, drove into a residential fence, and fired several shots with a handgun into the air and at his own pickup.
Kirk remains in custody at the Sweetwater County Detention Center in lieu of a $50,000 cash or surety bond.
Friday, September 9, 2011
911 Council Meeting
Residents are being asked to Take a moment to remember this Sunday, Erick Pauley has more from this weeks City council Meeting
Whirling Disease May Be Present in Green River Fish
Signs announcing whirling disease being present in the fishery will soon be posted on the banks of Utah’s famed Green River, but wildlife officials say that may be the only indication anglers ever see of the often fatal trout malady.
"We don’t want people to have a negative conception for the Green because of this announcement," said Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge/Green River project leader for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). "The potential for fish to show clinical signs of the disease is minimal. The impact will be minimal." Local officials have not indicated that the disease has shown up in our area. Tests from the state’s Fisheries Experiment Station in Logan only showed DNA evidence of the whirling disease in a sample of rainbow trout taken from the Little Hole day-use area, seven miles downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam, last fall. There is no known health threat from whirling disease for people.
"We don’t want people to have a negative conception for the Green because of this announcement," said Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge/Green River project leader for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). "The potential for fish to show clinical signs of the disease is minimal. The impact will be minimal." Local officials have not indicated that the disease has shown up in our area. Tests from the state’s Fisheries Experiment Station in Logan only showed DNA evidence of the whirling disease in a sample of rainbow trout taken from the Little Hole day-use area, seven miles downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam, last fall. There is no known health threat from whirling disease for people.
Reward Offered for Weatherbug Cam Shooting
The Daggett County Commission Is Offering A Reward Of $10,000 For Any Information That Leads To The Successful Arrest And Prosecution Of The Individual Or Individuals Involved In The Shooting Of The WeatherBug Webcam Station Located At The Overlook Of Sheep Creek Bay On Or About Saturday, August 27, 2011. If You Have Any Information On This Event Please Contact The Daggett County Sheriff’s Office At 435-784-3255. If You Have Information But Would Like To Remain Anonymous Please Call The Daggett County Sheriff’s Office After Hours At 435-784-3255 And Leave A Message. Anonymous Information Is Not Eligible For Receipt Of The Reward Offered.
Scam Alert
It's yet another case of attenmptemted fraud as Officers were dispatched to Logan St. The victim received a phone call from a person claiming to be a relative in legal trouble in a foreign country in need of financial aid. The Green River Police Department wants citizens to be aware of this re-occurring scam. Citizens are advised to check with other family members and friends to verify these of requests before transferring large sums of money out of the country. Once the money crosses an international border, there is no way to recover these funds. The potential victim was aware enough to not fall prey to the scam and called police right away. Anyone calling on the phone asking for money to be wired to them should be considered as suspicious.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Legacy of the Events of 9-11
As the nation prepares to remember the ten year anniversary of 9-11, a credible, but "unconfirmed" terrorist threat is being investigated for New York and our nation's capital. Officials have said that al Qaeda may be plotting to bomb bridges or tunnels in those cities. Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's office says the events of 9-11 have changed the job of those in law enforcement drastically.
While there is sadness as we remember those who lost their lives, Blust also hopes everyone will remember the legacy of 9-11.
Blust also hopes everyone will take some time on Sunday to simply prepare yourself and your family for a disaster by making a plan and preparing a survival kit. For more information on how, go to redcross.org.
While there is sadness as we remember those who lost their lives, Blust also hopes everyone will remember the legacy of 9-11.
Blust also hopes everyone will take some time on Sunday to simply prepare yourself and your family for a disaster by making a plan and preparing a survival kit. For more information on how, go to redcross.org.
Meth Use Down
Sweetwater County is seeing a decline in meth use. Laura Schmid-Pizzato of Southwest Counseling Service says that admissions related to methamphetamine use have dropped 22 percent in the past seven years. Schmid-Pizzato manages SCS’s recovery programs. During the agency’s 2003-2004 fiscal year, 43 percent of all Southwest Counseling Service’s addiction treatment admissions were for methamphetamine, while last year, meth-addicted clients only added up to 21 percent of total admissions. Schmid-Pizzato said many of the so-called super labs, large-scale clandestine laboratories dedicated to the manufacture of meth, have been shut down -- resulting in lesser quantities of the drug available to consumers. Campaigns in Wyoming high schools is being credited for part of the declie through posters that show meth users with open sore on their mouths and bodies. Sarah Harris, a student from Green River High School, said she often thinks about the “nasty” open sores. Fred Moczulski, a detective with the Green River Police Department, said high school students and young adults are typically very concerned about their appearance and messages targeting how the drug affects the body are effective with those groups.
Water Pipeline to Cast 3 Time More
Real-estate investor Aaron Million's proposal to provide water to Colorado's Front Range by building a 550-mile pipeline from southwestern Wyoming is no cheap fix. Two years ago, Million estimated the cost of the project at around $3 billion. But a new study commissioned by opponents says the project could be three times more expensive, by far the most costly water diversion in Colorado history.
The pipeline would move 81 billion gallons of water annually from the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir to municipalities in Colorado, including several in Douglas County that are seeking solutions to burgeoning growth and a diminishing supply. There's a host of unknowns in the proposal, and in an even vaguer public-sector pursuit of a similar pipleine. But a new report prepared by economist George Oamke for Western Resource Advocates attempts to crunch the numbers and come up with a range of actual costs to recreation interests in the Flaming Gorge area as well as to end-users in Colorado.
The pipeline would move 81 billion gallons of water annually from the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir to municipalities in Colorado, including several in Douglas County that are seeking solutions to burgeoning growth and a diminishing supply. There's a host of unknowns in the proposal, and in an even vaguer public-sector pursuit of a similar pipleine. But a new report prepared by economist George Oamke for Western Resource Advocates attempts to crunch the numbers and come up with a range of actual costs to recreation interests in the Flaming Gorge area as well as to end-users in Colorado.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Information Sought In Pronghorn Poaching At Telephone Canyon
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking your help in solving a recent pronghorn antelope poaching case. According to Green River Game Warden Duane Kerr, sometime on August 28th a two-year-old buck pronghorn antelope was shot and left to rot in Telephone Canyon, just west of Green River. Kerr says a concerned citizen who walks regularly in the area made the report. Kerr says the crime is a serious one.
A judge can also require the person responsible to pay the Department for the cost of the animal they killed. Kerr is just hoping whoever is responsible may have bragged to someone who will come forward to report it.
Anyone with information can contact the Green River Game and Fish office at 307-875-3223, the Stop Poaching hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP, or game Warden Duane Kerr at 307-875-3325. Tips may also be reported on line at gf.state.wy.us/stoppoaching. Tips may result in a reward of up to 5 thousand dollars even if you choose to remain anonymous.
A judge can also require the person responsible to pay the Department for the cost of the animal they killed. Kerr is just hoping whoever is responsible may have bragged to someone who will come forward to report it.
Anyone with information can contact the Green River Game and Fish office at 307-875-3223, the Stop Poaching hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP, or game Warden Duane Kerr at 307-875-3325. Tips may also be reported on line at gf.state.wy.us/stoppoaching. Tips may result in a reward of up to 5 thousand dollars even if you choose to remain anonymous.
City Council Meeting Report
There was an elephant in the room at last nights city council meeting, Erick Pauley has the story
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Teton County Vandals
Teton County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 14 and a 16 year old late Thursday afternoon in connection with the Vandalism at the Rendezvous Upper Elementary School in Driggs. The vandalism was reported August 7, 2011. The investigation has been ongoing since that time with Jackson, Wyoming police investigators helping analyze computer hard drives involved in the vandalism which led to positive identification of the suspects from surveillance cameras.. Estimated costs of damages from the the pair of boys' vandalism spree are estimated to be over $40,000. Stolen items from the school have also been recovered. The juveniles were booked into Teton County, Idaho and then released to their parents. They will appear in court at a later date. Meanwhile, repairs to the school were hastily made and new computers and audio-visual equipment ordered in time for the first day of school August 24th.
Teachers Relocating to Wyoming for Better Pay
Teachers are making the move to Wyoming from Idaho as pay gets higher in the state. Idaho. Gary Dustin moved his family from Idaho wherte he worked at Rigby Junior High School. Dustin moved to Star Valley High School in Afton, Wyo., where his pay jumped by $25,000 to $57,000 a year. Natural gas, coal and oil have made Wyoming wealthy over the past few decades — and a sizable portion of that money goes to the education system. That enables places like Star Valley to offer salaries, benefits and resources that are tough to top. Jon Abrams, superintendent of Lincoln County School District 2, which includes Star Valley High School, spent five years working in eastern Idaho schools before moving to Wyoming. He said the state's willingness to invest in education was a big part of what drew him away from Shelly and Idaho Falls.
Off Track Betting in Natrona Could Become a Reality
Off track betting could become a reality in Natrona county. Natrona County commissioners are considering the move after the return of live horse racing to Wyoming last month nearly two years after the state's only horse track ceased operations. Eugene Joyce and Wyoming Horse Racing LLC began live horse racing at Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs. They have also opened off-track betting sites in Rock Springs and Evanston. Natrona County commissioners will consider off-track betting for Casper's Sidelines Sports Bar at a meeting today.
Body
Searchers have found the body of a 35-year-old Colorado man who drowned in Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The Deseret News reports that the body of Chad Runnings of Craig was found Friday in the same general area where he was last seen. Daggett County sheriff's spokeswoman Karen Peterson says Runnings drowned Thursday afternoon while swimming with a friend after high winds carried their boat away. She says Runnings had a life jacket on but gave it to a friend as they tried to retrieve the boat. Soon after, the friend saw Runnings go under the water and not resurface.
Texting Warning
Safety first – texting second. It’s a message for teens and parents as the school season gets underway. There’s a new crop of teen drivers behind the wheel, along with the regular uptick in the number of kids walking and bicycling to school and a reactivation of school zones. Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association President Diana Rhodes says driving to school is a rite of passage, but one that needs a special emphasis on staying safe.
Rhodes says every day, trial lawyers see the unfortunate effects of incidents where safety wasn’t heeded, causing death and lifelong harm. She points out that almost every time, the incident was preventable…and says that's always the case with mobile devices and driving.
According to the Triple-A Foundation for Traffic Safety, 92 percent of drivers agree that texting is a serious safety concern. At the same time, about 25 percent admit to texting or other use of mobile devices while behind the wheel. Drivers caught texting while driving in Wyoming can be issued a 75-dollar citation.
Rhodes says every day, trial lawyers see the unfortunate effects of incidents where safety wasn’t heeded, causing death and lifelong harm. She points out that almost every time, the incident was preventable…and says that's always the case with mobile devices and driving.
According to the Triple-A Foundation for Traffic Safety, 92 percent of drivers agree that texting is a serious safety concern. At the same time, about 25 percent admit to texting or other use of mobile devices while behind the wheel. Drivers caught texting while driving in Wyoming can be issued a 75-dollar citation.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Local and State Campaign Encourages Public To Be Prepared
Local and state agencies are encouraging the citizens of Wyoming to take steps now to prepare for disaster.
COPY:
September is Preparedness Month and an awareness program has been launched across Wyoming as part of the National campaign. The "I'm Prepared in Wyoming" program teaches us to take simple step to prepare for emergencies in our homes, businesses and communities. As part of the campaing, Wyoming residents that watch a video or submit a prepardness tip the website, you will be entered to win one of more than 90 prizes. The promotion will be active from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 and can be accessed at http://wyohomelandsecurity.state.wy.us/npm/index.html
COPY:
September is Preparedness Month and an awareness program has been launched across Wyoming as part of the National campaign. The "I'm Prepared in Wyoming" program teaches us to take simple step to prepare for emergencies in our homes, businesses and communities. As part of the campaing, Wyoming residents that watch a video or submit a prepardness tip the website, you will be entered to win one of more than 90 prizes. The promotion will be active from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 and can be accessed at http://wyohomelandsecurity.state.wy.us/npm/index.html
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