More Snow On The Way

Another round of wintry weather appears to be barreling back into Wyoming over the next couple days.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for most of southern Wyoming as well as Natrona County and both sides of the Wind River Range.
The snow is expected to begin falling Tuesday and move eastward Tuesday night.
Up to a foot of snow could fall in the Lander area. Casper, Laramie and Cheyenne also could get significant snowfall - between 4 and 10 inches.

Full capacity OK'd after Wyo. pipeline rupture

Federal investigators have allowed TransCanada to go to full pressure on a new gas pipeline in northeast Wyoming that ruptured for reasons that still aren't entirely clear.

Calgary, Alberta-based TransCanada doesn't have quite enough gas to take full advantage of the recent approval from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The Bison Pipeline is running at about 85% capacity.

The 30-inch pipeline ruptured July 20 and spewed a brown cloud into the sky 20 miles northwest of Gillette. The rupture shook the ground a mile away but the gas didn't ignite.

TransCanada spokesman David Dodson said Monday that TransCanada determined that something struck and damaged the pipe, though how or when that happened remains unknown.

The pipeline across southeast Montana into North Dakota began shipping gas in January.

After attacks, a renewed focus on bear safety

Wildlife officials in the Northern Rockies want to sharpen their grizzly bear safety message after two hikers were fatally mauled over the summer in Yellowstone National Park.

The Yellowstone region's grizzly population has expanded in recent years to about 600 bears. Those animals are pushing into new areas of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho - forcing wildlife agencies to broaden the public safety side of their "bear awareness" message.

Also growing is the size of the crowd that message needs to reach: Yellowstone National Park last year hosted a record 3.6 million visitors.

Chief Ranger Tim Reid says the park has done well instructing hikers who camp overnight about the dangers of traveling in bear country. He says the park has been less successful reaching day hikers such as the two mauling victims.

Interior Department Ban on Uranium Claims

Wyoming may be poised for a uranium renaissance. The Interior Department extended a ban on uranium claims around the Grand Canyon last week, and some Colorado projects are tied up in court. Meanwhile, there are 25 projects either up and running or in the process in Wyoming – a state that was once a leading producer until prices bottomed-out and health problems arose. Daryle Murphy with the Wyoming Chapter of the Sierra Club says current production methods are safer, and have a smaller footprint, than years ago, although some of the projects could affect sage grouse habitat on public lands.






(Short story tag) Murphy says another concern is protecting underground water supplies that can become contaminated during the mining process.

Murphy does credit production companies for using safer mining methods these days, but points out that accidents still happen.






The N-R-C investigation is taking place at a facility operated by Uranium One – a Canadian company.

The Jonah Interagency Office Inprovemnents

The Jonah Interagency Office (JIO) is planning a series of improvements at Boulder Lake this fall to enhance the popular Boulder Lake North Campground.
Livestock and off-highway vehicle use along the lake shoreline has damaged riparian habitat as well as cultural resources. The planned improvements will mitigate these impacts and improve the usage and enjoyment of the area by wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts. The existing wildlife-friendly fence around the North Boulder Lake Campground will be expanded to include the Boulder Lake shoreline from the campground almost to the Boulder Lake Common Allotment (BLCA) boundary.
Boulders will be placed to limit motorized access to the shoreline. An interpretive kiosk will be installed at the campground discussing the site’s cultural and historic significance, including John Fremont’s camp and Stoke’s Crossing. A new well has been drilled in the north portion of the BLCA to provide water for livestock since their access to the lake has been reduced. JIO Coordinator Eric Decker is enthusiastic about the Boulder Lake improvements. “We’re excited about the positive results these improvements will make for all users. This is a great example of how the BLM and other agencies can work with grazing permittees and other stakeholders to produce a win-win situation.”

Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo Deemed Success

Organizers of the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo say the event held in Rock Springs appeared to be a success. Sweetwater County Events Complex Executive Director Larry Lloyd says there were a lot of people attending the 3-day rodeo during the last two days on Oct. 14 and 15. Event Coordinator Kandi Pendleton attributed part of the rodeo's success to it being hosted in the Indoor Arena rather than outdoors.

Wyoming Businesses Can Now Pay Unemployment Insurance Taxes Electronically

Wyoming businesses now have the option of paying unemployment insurance taxes electronically. Wendy Tyson of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services says before the new system was implemented, employers had to mail checks to the agency to pay their unemployment insurance taxes. The electronic funds transfer option also means employers no longer need to worry that their check was lost in the mail. Tyson says the system allows employers to schedule their payments up to 90 days in advance.

Jackson Elk Hunter Attacked By Bear In Grand Teton National Park

A 32 year old Jackson man was attacked by a bear while hunting elk in the Grand Teton National Park early Sunday. Officials say he followed the safety recommendations for handling such an encounter, including carrying bear spray and dropping to the ground and covering his head. He didn't fire any shots at the bear or kill any elk previously. Subsequent warnings have been placed in the area of the attack. It is unknown what species the bear was and many details remain unclear including the health status of the hunter. The hunter's name has not been released.

Australian Firem Seeks Coal Gasification Permit

An Australian firm has submitted a request to Wyoming environmental regulators for permission to produce gas and carbon dioxide from underground coal at a site near Wright. Linc Energy's process would essentially cook coal deep underground, producing gas the company would, among other uses, collect for conversion into fuels, and carbon dioxide the company could sell to oil companies that use it to force out hard-to-get oil. The company announced its submission of a permit application to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality on Thursday for its demonstration project, known as Gasifier 6. According to a press release, the company will use the pilot project -- which it expects to fire next year -- to demonstrate the value of underground coal gasification. Linc Energy owns rights to 287 square miles of coal leases in the Powder River Basin as well as three oil fields between Casper and Glenrock.

Japanese-American Cheyenne Man To Receive Congressional Gold Medal Posthumously

A Japanese-American veteran from Cheyenne is among those receiving the Congressional Gold Medal this week for their service during World War II. The posthumous honor for Ted Miyamoto comes decades after he served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated unit. Miyamoto was a Cheyenne resident when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. Shortly after war was declared, he enlisted in the Army. Miyamoto fought in Europe, where he earned the Bronze Star, then returned to Cheyenne after the war. He was a watchmaker and worked for the Wyoming Department of Transportation. He died in 2005 at age 83. Miyamoto's daughter Terie Miyamoto will accept the honor Wednesday in Washington. Also honored Wednesday will be veterans who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion and the Military Intelligence Service.

Make Sure Your House Is Safe For Trick or Treaters

Ghosts and Goblins will be out in force this evening begging for sweets. So, what can you do to make your home safe for the spooky visitors?






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While dark houses make for a spooky Halloween, you will need to make sure trick or treaters can see well. But avoid candles outside and in jackolanterns.. not only are they are a fire safety to your home, they also can catch costumes on fire. Try using glow sticks or battery-operated lights. You will also want to make sure the path to your door is clear of slippery leaves or obstacles like potted plants. And one last note, while the pets may seem to enjoy the visitors, it can be scary and stressful for them, so be sure to confine them in a space with a favorite toy until the bewitching hour has passed.

BLM Spreads Fertilizer Around Pinedale Anticline Gas Fields

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is beginning to spread fertilizer in and around a gas field in western Wyoming to try to get sagebrush to grow faster. The BLM said Friday it will spread fertilizer by airplane over about 1,000 acres of sagebrush over the next few weeks. The goal is to improve forage for mule deer. A study out last year showed dwindling numbers of mule deer in an area just south of Pinedale. Mule deer numbers were down up to 60 percent compared to several years earlier. The Pinedale Anticline gas field south of Pinedale is among the top-producing gas fields in the United States.

Governor and First Lady Invite Trick or Treaters To Residence

Governor Matt Mead, First Lady Carol Mead and their children welcome trick-or-treaters and their families to ring the doorbell at the Governor’s Residence on Halloween night from 6:00-8:00 PM. The First Family will have traditional treats for visitors. The residence is located at 5001 Central Avenue in Cheyenne. Governor Mead will also sign a proclamation recognizing November as National Adoption Month at 5:30 on the 31st. The public is welcome to attend this signing which will also take place at the residence.

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Expansion Will Start In January

Construction for Cheyenne Regional Medical Center's expansion likely will start in January with a two-level parking garage. A cancer center will follow in the spring, hospital vice president David Squires told the hospital's board on Thursday. The board unanimously approved a scaled-back construction plan for the expansion. The reduction in scope is due to funding and the hospital's ability to take on bonding, Squires said. The cost of the revised phase is one that officials are comfortable that they can absorb and manage, he said. The hospital plans to issue about $75 million to $80 million in revenue bonds to help pay for it.

Wyoming Unemployment Fraudulent Claims Quadruple

Improper claims for unemployment insurance in Wyoming have nearly quadrupled since 2008. The Wyoming Workforce Services Department documented $2.5 million in overpayments in 2010, up from $1.15 million in 2009 and $644,000 in 2009.
The number of unemployment fraud cases jumped from 652 in 2008 to 2,012 last year. There were 811 such cases in 2009.
Workforce Services Department Director Joan Evans says the poor economy and people failing to notify the state when they find work are the main reasons for the jump. Evans says in most cases people who receive overpayments say they don't understand how the program works, The department is making an effort to cut down on overpayments by educating employers and workers about how to avoid overpayments. Despite the increased amount of money paid out in 2010, Evans said Wyoming's unemployment insurance fund is solvent.

Joint Revenue Interim Committee Votes Down Wind Energy Bill

The members of the Joint Revenue Interim Committee voted against the bill Thursday that would have restructured the state's policy on taxing wind energy projects to benefit producers. The bill would have allowed the state to charge impact fees on new wind projects instead of allowing the existing sales tax exemption on wind energy equipment to expire on schedule in January. The state in January also will begin taxing wind developers $1 per megawatt hour. Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, said after the vote that pending wind projects promise to have a huge impact on the state. He says whether they're built will hinge more on the existence of transmission lines than the state's tax policy.

Joan Evans Selected for Toll Fellowship Program

Department of Workforce Services Director Joan Evans was selected for the prestigious Toll Fellowship Program sponsored by the Council of State Governments. The Henry Toll Fellowship Program, named in honor of Henry Toll, a Colorado senator who founded CSG in 1933, is the nation’s premier leadership development program for state government officials and the most widely recognized one serving all three branches.
Evans was re-appointed by Governor Matt Mead as Director to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services in January, 2011. She was initially appointed to this post under Governor Dave Freudenthal in January, 2007. Under Evans’ leadership, the Department of Workforce Services provides employment and training, unemployment insurance benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, business and vocational rehabilitation services throughout Wyoming.
This year’s Toll Fellows Class included leaders from 34 states and two U.S. territories. Participants included a secretary of state, district judges, a Supreme Court chief justice, various cabinet officials, nine senators and 19 representatives. Previous Toll Fellows have gone on to build careers of great distinction. Toll Fellows Alumni currently include four governors, seven lieutenant governors, eight secretaries of state, eight members of Congress and one member of President Obama’s cabinet, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.

Riverton Man Faces Vehicular Homicide After Fatal Accident In Construction Zone

A 31-year-old Riverton man faces four counts of aggravated vehicular homicide stemming from a rear-end crash that killed a couple stopped at a construction zone in Fremont County. Gavin L. Shurtleff is out of jail on $50,000 bail. The Wyoming Highway Patrol says Shurtleff was driving a truck when it struck a car from behind on Aug. 25th near Shoshoni, killing 53-year-old Anthony C. Smith and 54-year-old Deaun L. Smith, both of Riverton. The patrol says the Smiths were stopped at a construction zone but Shurtleff's truck didn't slow down despite signs, orange cones and a flagger warning of the work.

Legislative Committee Votes Against Wind Energy Taxation

A Wyoming legislative committee has voted against a bill that would have restructured the state's policy on taxing wind energy projects to benefit producers. The members of the Joint Revenue Interim Committee voted against the bill yesterday in Worland. The bill would have allowed the state to charge impact fees on new wind projects instead of allowing the existing sales tax exemption on wind energy equipment to expire on schedule in January. The state in January also will begin taxing wind developers $1 per megawatt hour.

Gillette Man Arrested For Having 9 Year Old Son As Designated Driver

A Gillette man was arrested in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday after he allegedly made his 9-year-old son serve as his designated driver. 31 year old Nathan Sikkenga and his wife reportedly told their child to take the wheel of a minivan because they were too inebriated to drive themselves, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. The child then crashed the van into a security gate arm after he reportedly mistook the gas pedal for the brake pedal. When a sheriff’s deputy who witnessed the crash approached Sikkenga, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, Sikkenga reportedly told him that both he and his wife were drunk and had instructed the child to drive. Sikkenga was charged with felony child endangerment and was let out on bond. The police report did not detail why the mother was not arrested as well.

BLM Christmas Tree Permit Prices Increase

The Bureau of Land Management is already thinking about Christmas. Shelley Gregory with the BLM tells us they have increased the price of Christmas tree permits to coincide with a U.S. Forest Service Bridger-Teton National Forest increase.






This is the first increase in permit prices in 12 years.






Permits are available at the KFO in Kemmerer and the PFO in Pinedale. Cutting or removal of forest products is prohibited in campgrounds, summer home sites, administrative sites (guard stations), ski areas, Cache Creek Canyon near Jackson, the Snake River Canyon, designated Wilderness or Wilderness Study Areas and elk feed grounds.

Stocked Pheasant Walk-In Areas Selected

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has selected walk-in areas in Goshen, Laramie, and Platte Counties that will be stocked with pheasants this fall. Those areas are Goshen County 19, 29, and 63; Laramie County 21 and 34; and Platte County 20, 23, 24, and 51. Weather permitting, the walk-in areas will receive two releases per week - but only through November this year, due to fewer birds available for release. Hunters are alerted that this season hen pheasants, in addition to roosters, will be stocked and can be taken on walk-in areas in Laramie and Platte counties. Only roosters are legal game in Goshen County.
Rooster pheasants will also be stocked through Nov. 26th at the Table Mountain Habitat Area south of Huntley. There will be no pheasant releases this season at Bump-Sullivan Reservoir, due to the managed goose hunt resuming for the second year. Hunters are cautioned if they follow the stocking truck, the driver will likely return to the Downar Bird Farm and not release the birds. In addition, 527 juvenile pheasants were also released in Goshen County this August by the Goshen County Rooster Boosters, an organization dedicated to improving pheasant hunting in the area. The general pheasant season in southeast Wyoming runs Nov. 5 - Dec. 31. Hunters, regardless of age, are reminded to purchase the Pheasant Management Permit or stamp to hunt pheasants on walk-in and habitat areas.

Frontier Prison Begins Haunted Halloween Tours Friday

The Wyoming Frontier Prison will offer its annual Haunted Halloween tours beginning tomorrow. This year's scene at the prison-turned-museum in Rawlins is inspired by a 1955 riot there. Eighty inmates, armed with kitchen knives, took three guards hostage. Special events coordinator Sarah Trapp told the Rawlins Daily Times that staffers and volunteers are going to have "creative freedom" with the theme. The prison known as "Old Pen" opened in 1901 and was Wyoming's first penitentiary. It closed in 1981 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Criminal Charges Won't Be Filed Against Cheyenne Police Officer

The Laramie County district attorney has announced he won't file criminal charges against a Cheyenne policeman who shot and wounded a motorist during a traffic stop last month. District Attorney Scott Homar announced Wednesday that 21-year-old Matthew Jacoby-Carabajal turned his car toward officers and drove at them before the unidentified officer shot him on Sept. 19th. Jacoby-Carabajal remains in stable condition at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, a hospital spokeswoman says. Capt. Mitch Maxwell of the Cheyenne Police Department says the department will now undertake a confidential review of the shooting. Maxwell says the officer felt his life was in danger. He says the officer has returned to duty, but is not currently assigned to patrol.

Snow Effects

The snowstorm has moved out, but not before it closed a stretch of Interstate 80 Wednesday in southeast Wyoming. The National Weather Service says up to 11 inches of snow was measured in parts of Laramie County. The Cheyenne area received about 9 inches. Temperatures should rise into the 50's by the weekend.

GR Garage Fire

No one was hurt in a garage fire Tuesday in Green River. According to Dea Cargile of the Green River fire Department, the garage was fully engulfed in flames and a house on either side of the garage was threatened. Smoke filled the air in the entire neighborhood. With three pumpers and one aerial truck, the GRFD managed to keep nearby houses safe, but some of the siding on one structure melted. Awood-burning stove was in the garage. “We’re thinking this may have had something to do with it, but the fire is still under investigation,” he said. He added that current estimate of the loss is placed at $50,000.

Tomahawk Building Reno Dissolved

The planned renovation for the Tomahawk Building downtown fell apart when the Green River City Council unanimously voted to return a $1.8 million grant to the Wyoming Business Council. Mayor Hank Castillon said the issue resulting in the city’s decision is a right-of-first-refusal clause between the current building owner, Green River Futures, and the previous owner, Jeff Stout.

BLM Rawlins

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field Office (RFO) is issuing the finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and decision record (DR) for the 8,529 acre Powder Mountain Spike Treatment project.
The BLM, along with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) and Little Snake River Conservation District (LSRCD), plans to conduct a mountain shrub (bitterbrush) enhancement treatment on approximately 3,200 acres of federal lands within the project area during the next two to three-years.
The project area is approximately 30 miles west of Baggs, Wyo. The proposed treatment will occur within the Powder Mountain #10519 grazing allotment.
The treatment was proposed and designed jointly by the BLM and WGFD to improve habitat conditions in the Baggs mule deer herd crucial winter range. It is designed to enhance the health of existing sagebrush/mountain shrub communities by diversifying the age class structure and arrangement, increasing herbaceous and forb production and encouraging bitterbrush production and vigor. The treatment will also reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfire by decreasing existing fuel loads, creating natural fuel breaks, rejuvenating decadent mountain shrub communities and improving upland vegetative health and diversity. The Powder Mountain project area is a popular recreation and hunting destination and includes antelope, elk, and mule deer crucial winter ranges which will benefit from the treatment.

Widow Of Man Killed By Research Grizzly Sues Federal Government

The widow of a man killed by a grizzly bear not long after the animal awoke from tranquilizers in the wild country near Yellowstone National Park has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Yolanda Evert filed suit on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne. The lawsuit seeks $5 million from the federal government. The lawsuit says grizzly bear researchers prematurely took down signs that warned passers-by of the work that they were doing. The 430-pound male grizzly bear mauled Erwin Evert, of Park Ridge, Ill., on June 17, 2010. Evert had been hiking about a mile from the cabin where the Everts lived for part of the year. The attack occurred where scientists had snared and tranquilized the bear hours earlier.

Expensive Seal Installed in Sidewalk At State Capitol Proves Slippery In Snow

The season's first snowfall had Wyoming officials scrambling to keep people from slipping on the highly polished masonry of the official state seal that was inlaid into the sidewalk in front of the state Capitol this summer. Yesterday, orange cones stood around the roughly 12-foot-diameter seal, which was installed as part of a renovation project. Chris Boswell, director of the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, said it cost several hundred thousand dollars. Boswell said he didn't know of anyone slipping on the seal yet, but said the cones went up when workers recognized it could be a hazard.

Rock Springs PD and Sheriff's Office Will Collect Prescription Drugs

The Rock Springs Police Department and Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office will be collecting old, expired and unused prescription drugs on Saturday, October 29th, between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM . Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office says the collection is a team effort with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in an annual program that gives the public the opportunity to prevent prescription pill abuse and theft.






The initiative provides a safe way for everyone to dispose of drugs that might be otherwise abuse, stolen or misused. Rates of prescription drug abuse are on the rise and flushing or simply throwing away drugs adds poisons into our water and environment.






For those who have medications to dispose of but are unable to make the event on Saturday, Community Services Officer Randy Hanson of the Rock Springs Police Department is available and can be contacted at the Rock Springs Police Department.

Horned Lizard Topic of Conservation Stamp Art Competition

Wyoming's state reptile, the Greater short-horned lizard, will be the subject for the 29th Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Competition. The short-horned lizard is commonly referred to as the horned toad. Each year Wyoming Game and Fish selects one species to be the subject of the competition and eventually appear on more than 100,000 conservation stamps. The winning artist also receives a cash award of $3,500. Second place receives $1,500, third $750. The competition is open to professional artists. Entries will be accepted Jan. 1 to March 16 next year. The contest will culminate with judging in Cheyenne on April 13, 2012. The winning artwork will appear on the 2013 Wyoming conservation stamp. Information on the conservation stamp art contest is available from the Game and Fish Department.

I-80 Now Open After Snowstorm

All of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne is now open to traffic but the highway remains slick. The 50-mile stretch of highway was shut down Tuesday night because of a snowstorm. U.S. 287 remains closed from Laramie into Colorado.
The storm that brought snow to a large section of southeast Wyoming is moving out of the state. Cold temperatures will remain through Thursday with wind chills in the single digits in some places. The National Weather Service says around 8 inches fell in the Cheyenne area with higher amounts in the Snowy and southern Laramie ranges. Despite snow causing tree branches to sag, Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power says there have been no reports of power outages.

BLM Lifts Fire Restrictions In Eastern Wyoming

Cooler, wetter weather has caused the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to lift fire restrictions on BLM land in Converse, Platte and Goshen counties in eastern Wyoming. That means people can do things such as build a campfire that's not inside a fire grate at a developed site. They also can use a chain saw without having a fire extinguisher on hand. The BLM says setting off fireworks and shooting guns with tracer or incendiary ammunition are still prohibited on BLM land.

teton Schools Scared of New Regs

Teton County School District No. 1 could lose nearly $4 million annually if lawmakers change the way the state accounts for the valley’s high cost of living in funding formulas.
Last week, the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Education Committee — five senators and nine representatives — initially approved using a hedonic cost-of-living adjustment instead of the current cost-based model. Under a hedonic model, for instance, someone could be paid less because he or she gets to live near a national park and enjoy its intangible benefits. Under the state-authored cost-of-living index used today, Teton County is deemed to be 33 percent more expensive than the state average. Under the proposed hedonic index, Teton County would be considered just 11 percent more expensive than the state average.

State 11th in Wind Energy

According to the American Wind Energy Association, Wyoming is nearing the 1,000 megawatt mark for wind energy production. Current production, as of September, is at 986 MW with an additional 300 currently being installed. Ad additional 500 or more is under development for the next two to three years.
While not leading the nation in total wind power production (Texas leads at nearly 8,800MW), Wyoming is certainly a national leader. Ranked at number 11, Wyoming has the potential to be number 7 in total capacity.
Most of those plants are owned by PacifiCorp and Duke Energy.
The only facility powering Wyoming is the Happy Jack facility near the city dump outside of Cheyenne, which is owned by Duke Energy.

PAWG meets

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Anticline Working Group (PAWG) will hold its quarterly meeting at 9 a.m. on Nov. 8 in the Pinedale Field Office’s Rendezvous Room at 1625 W. Pine St. in Pinedale, Wyo.
Topics of discussion will include an update on the schedule for meeting air quality milestones, a review of the recommendation drafted at the previous PAWG meeting in August, a discussion of vacancies on the PAWG and an update on the wildlife over- and under-passes on State Highway 191.

Sheridan Police Kill Mountain Lion Found In Home Backyard

The Sheridan Police Department killed a mountain lion found in a resident's backyard over the weekend. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department approved shooting the lion on Sunday for safety reasons. Game managers determined that any attempt to immobilize and relocate the animal would have resulted in increased danger to the public. The agency says the 3-year-old male mountain lion weighed about 115 pounds and appeared to be in good physical condition.

Wyoming Unemployment Rate Holds Steady

Wyoming's unemployment rate held steady at 5.8 percent in September. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services says the state's jobless rate appears to have stabilized, remaining in the narrow range of 5.7 percent to 5.9 percent in each of the past four months. September's unemployment rate is down from its year-ago level of 6.7 percent. Lincoln County reported the state's highest unemployment rate at 6.3 percent last month, followed by Laramie County at 6 percent. Big Horn, Fremont and Sheridan counties all had 5.9 percent rates. Sublette County had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.9 percent, followed by Albany at 3.8 percent and Campbell at 4 percent. Sublette County has had the state's lowest unemployment rate for 16 consecutive months.

BLM Pinedale Announces Decrease In Firewood Permits

With all of this snow, many of you are probably thinking about firewood. Starting January 1st, the cost for a firewood permit from the Bureau of Land Management will actually decrease by 1 dollar per cord. Shelley Gregory with the BLM says there is a reason behind the decrease.






Gregory says that while they are encouraging the removal of firewood, there are regulations.






Permits will decrease from 5 dollars to 4 dollars per cord with a five cord minimum and a ten cord maximum. Permits are available at the KFO in Kemmerer and the PFO in Pinedale.

New Electronic Speed Signs In Place Between Laramie and Cheyenne

New electronic speed limit signs are in place along Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne. The signs make it possible for the Wyoming Department of Transportation to remotely change the speed limit on the highway to match current road and weather conditions. WYDOT has installed more than three dozen signs along I-80 in southern Wyoming. The signs allow the speed limit to be dropped incrementally to as low as 30 or 35 mph, with the ability to tailor the speed limit changes to road sections as short as two miles in length. Statistics indicate that the signs, combined with other improvements in maintenance strategies, resulted in fewer crashes and road closures.

Wild Horse Round Up Is Under Way

The Bureau of Land Management is rounding up wild horses in southwestern Wyoming's Divide Basin. The roundup began today and is expected to continue for another three to four weeks. About 1,640 horses live in the area east of Rock Springs, and the goal is to reduce the population to about 415. About 1,400 wild horses are expected to be rounded up. 200 will be released back, including mares that have been treated with a birth control drug. Of the approximately 1,200 that won't be returned, BLM spokeswoman Serena Baker said the younger ones will be put up for adoption. The older horses will be placed in pastures in Kansas, Oklahoma and the Dakotas. The last roundup in the area occurred in August 2007.

BLM Meeting

BLM Pinedale Field Office to Hold Wildlife Annual Planning Meeting
The Bureau of Land management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office (PFO), in
coordination with the Pinedale Anticline Project Office (PAPO), will hold a
Wildlife Annual Planning Meeting (APM) on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 8:30 a.m.
in the PFO Rendezvous Room at 1625 W. Pine St.
As directed in the 2008 Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA) Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) Record of Decision (ROD), an APM for
PAPA development is to be held annually. An additional APM for wildlife was
established in 2010 to coincide more closely with the availability of
wildlife data and to allow for a deeper and more efficient discussion of
wildlife issues.

Workforce Services’ Unemployment Insurance Division Looking for Fraud

The Department of Workforce Services’ Unemployment Insurance Division continues its efforts to detect fraudulent claims. Fraudulent claims most often occur when individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits fail to notify the Department when they become employed.
Joan Evans, Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, said, “It’s unfortunate that fraud occurs within our Unemployment Insurance system, but we do see it happen. We have a limited amount of benefits that we can offer to people who are facing unemployment, and when people receive benefits that are not eligible, we are prompted to take steps to recover those overpayments. This is the only way we can reserve those benefits for those who are eligible.”
If individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits fail to notify the Department when they have a change in income, they may be required to pay back the Department for any overpayment of benefits they receive. In addition, they may be subject to a penalty, or in some cases, could face criminal charges.

Ghost Walk Paranormal Evidence Wanted At Sweetwater County Library

If you have attended the Ghost Walks and have collected evidence of paranormal activity, then the library wants to hear from you. Britney Wells with the Sweetwater County library systems says you may even win a prize.






All the names of those with evidence will be placed in a hat for the drawing. Wells says your evidence may also help confirm the existence of the ghostly library patrons.






The final ghost walk takes place this weekend and is currently full. There is a wait list. To get your name on it, call the Sweetwater County Library in Green River.

Environmental Impact of Aspen Mountain Wind Farm Proposal Questioned

EnXco's proposal to build a 72-turbine wind farm on the south side of Aspen Mountain in Sweetwater County is raising concerns on the impact to wildlife and hunting. The project would generate up to 250 megawatts of electricity. While project proponents say the wind farm would not be visibile from Rock Springs or Green River, several county commissioners say the area it would be located in is full of wildlife and used by hunters. The company says it is drafting an environmental impact statement. The county will have the opportunity to provide input, along with studies on wildlife, cultural and recreational impact.

Ur-Energy Closer To Mining at Lost Cabin Site

Ur-Energy says the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality has issued a mining permit for its Lost Cabin uranium site in Sweetwater County. It's located in the Great Divide Basin about 40 miles northwest of Rawlins. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has licensed the project but the company still needs approval from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management before it can start mining. Ur-Energy says it has completed engineering for Lost Cabin's processing facility and that mine planning is well underway. The company is headquartered in Littleton, Colo. and explores for and mines uranium in both the United States in Canada.

Radon Awareness

As National Radon Awareness Week ends, federal, state and county officials are encouraging all homeowners to get their homes tested for radon. The test is a cheap and simple way to discover elevated levels of radon.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends homeowners test homes every two years, and to retest any time they move, make structural changes to their home or occupy a previously unused level of a home. Radon levels greater than 4 picocuries per liter are considered dangerous.

Carbon County Higher Education Center November College Game Plan Tour.

With the high numbers of unemployment and organizations tightening their wallets it' s becoming increasingly difficult for parents to afford to send their child to college. But even with the down economy there is still government funding available and a lot of scholarships go un-awarded each year. The Carbon County Higher Education Center hopes to help alleviate some of the stress with their November College Game Plan Tour. The goal of the tour is to help motivate locals to look past their circumstances and apply for college. The week long tour from November 14-18th includes visits to three schools and features interactive workshops by Felecia Hatcher, an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and the author of the book The C Students Guide to Scholarships. She will be speaking to students in Rawlins and Baggs, Wyoming as part of her national speaking tour. During her tour stop Felecia Hatcher will be holding the following workshops with high school students:

Golf Tourney

The White Mountain Golf Course in Rock Springs was the venue for this week’s fall golf season. Fifteen teams from throughout Wyoming were in Rock Springs for the biggest tournament of the season. The playing conditions were ideal with light winds and mild temperatures. More than 120 golfers competed for the two days.
The team title was won by Cheyenne Central. Rock Springs, Star Valley, Green River and Kemmerer rounded placed in the top ten.

Off Season Cover Crops

Growing cover crops in the off-season, and more organic production. Those are two recommendations for Wyoming farmers in a new report that looks at ways to help farmers save money, boost production and help the environment. Eliav Bitan with National Wildlife Federation co-authored the report. He says cover crops minimize soil erosion, provide food for many game bird species, and reduce fertilizer use in the next crop year.






Bitan says organic produce is still gaining in popularity with consumers, and organic farming practices are becoming more profitable for farmers.








Bitan says there are challenges because the types of cover crops that can thrive in Wyoming's climate are limited and they require more time to manage. The report makes seven recommendations for agricultural production, including the use of on-farm anaerobic digesters to treat animal waste, and reduced tilling.

Wild Horse Roundup To Begin This Week

A wild horse roundup in the Divide Basin of southwest Wyoming will start this week. The federal Bureau of Land Management says nearly 1,500 horses will be captured in a span of about four weeks. The BLM says the likely start date is Tuesday.
All mares that are released back into the wild will be treated with a birth control drug. After the roundup, 415 to 600 horses will remain in the area, which the BLM says is the appropriate number. The last roundup in the area occurred in August 2007.

Carbon County Commissioners Show Support of Wind Farm

Carbon County Commissioners have caused concern from some Rawlins area residents by writing a letter of support for a wind farm. The commissioners say in the letter to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management that the proposed Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind farm would provide many long-term jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues. Residents in the Rawlins area have expressed concerns that the turbines would affect their view of nearby landmarks and that some wind turbines would be visible from Interstate 80. Commissioners say in the letter that tourism is important to Carbon County and that the impact of the "wind towers on the landscape must not be underestimated." The 1,000 turbine wind farm is being proposed by an affiliate of Denver-based Anschutz Corp.

Bond Set For Rock Springs Man Accused of Assaut and Battery

A $20,000 cash or surety bond was set last Friday on 56 year old Brent Lynn Long of Rock Springs who is accused of Aggravated Assault and Battery. Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that around 12:30 AM on October 20th, Deputy Sheriff Matt Wharton was on patrol north of Rock Springs when he saw a vehicle with its lights on in the parking lot of Quality Energy Services on Highway 191.






Stevens told officers that Long was standing on the porch and “was holding his hands as if he had a gun.” She said she saw a red light between her eyes, which she believed was from a gun Long owns fitted with a laser, and then saw ‘fire’ coming out of the barrel of the gun.” An investigation showed that Long did own a .45 caliber Kimber semiautomatic pistol fitted with a laser sighting device.






Long was arrested and still remains in custody. Stevens was not injured during the incident.

Kansas Man Hurt In On-Vehicle Accident West of Little America

A Kansas man was seriously injured in a one-vehicle rollover west of Little America last Friday morning. Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's office says that county deputies, state troopers, the Green River Fire Department and Castle Rock Ambulance Service responded to the crash at around 8:46 AM.






Blust says that Johnson was alone in the vehicle. He was transported by ambulance to Memorial of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, then flown to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was undergoing treatment. The crash is being investigated by the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

Evanston State Hospital Building Closed Due To Mold

A building at the Wyoming State Hospital at Evanston has been closed due to air quality concerns that have arisen because of mold. State Hospital Director Tom Forslund told the State Building Commission on Wednesday that the building is in the worst shape out of the five institutions overseen by the Wyoming Department of Health. The commission approved $530,000 to assess the condition of all of the hospital's buildings. The Health Department also oversees the Pioneer Home at Thermopolis, the Life Resource Center at Lander, the Veterans Home at Buffalo and the Retirement Center at Basin.

Grand Teton National Park Visitors Dropped This Past Summer

Recreation visits to Grand Teton National Park dropped 2.7 percent for this past summer tourist season. From May 1 to Sept. 30, the park in northwest Wyoming recorded 2.2 million visitors compared with 2.26 million for the same period in 2010.
Year to date, Grand Teton visits are down 2.6 percent. Park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs said May recreation visits to Grand Teton dropped 8 percent from last year, largely due to inclement weather.

Occupy Wall Street To Occupy Laramie This Weekend

The Occupy Wall Street movement continues to be supported in Wyoming. A gathering is being planned this weekend in downtown Laramie to show solidarity with the Wall Street protest against economic inequality. The movement has spread to include cities and communities across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. In Wyoming, Occupy protests have taken place in Cheyenne, Casper, Jackson and Pinedale.

Former State Legislator Mary K. Schwope Dies At 94

Former state legislator Mary K. Schwope died Tuesday in Wheatland at the age of 94. Schwope was a native of Rock Springs and a Democrat. She served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1975 to 1991. She sponsored bills on hunter safety, charity pull tabs and snowmobile registration fees for trail grooming. She also sponsored legislation requested by law enforcement and by veterans for license plates and for Vietnam veteran tuition at the University of Wyoming, along with the establishment of the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery. Schwope was named the 2000 Wyoming Woman of Distinction by the Wyoming Women's Council. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Wheatland . Burial will take place later in the veterans' cemetery in Casper.

Cheyenne Will Lose 112 Jobs With Plant Closing

Cheyenne will lose 112 jobs with the closing of Jeld-Wen, a window and door maker. Operations are expected to stop by December 19th. Employees learned about the closure on Thursday and were encouraged to apply for jobs at other plants owned by the Klamath Falls, Oregon-based company. In a statement, Jeld-Wen said the depressed housing market has lowered demand for windows and doors.

Bureau of Land Management Accepting Nominations

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is now accepting nominations for two positions on the Pinedale Anticline Working Group (PAWG) representing the public-at-large or an archaeological or historic organization.
The PAWG is chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and tasked with providing balanced recommendations to the BLM on the development and implementation of monitoring plans, mitigation and adaptive management decisions pertinent to oil and gas activities in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA) as described in the Pinedale Anticline Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) Record of Decision (ROD).
Nominations must be received by Nov. 21, 2011 from Wyoming residents living near the PAPA. Mail or deliver nominations to the BLM Pinedale Field Office, 1625 W. Pine St., P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, WY 82941, or send via email to ssgregory@blm.gov.
Information about the PAWG, its membership and activities and the nomination process can be found at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_offices/Pinedale/pawg.html. For more information please contact Shelley Gregory at 307-315-0612.

Subsidence Holes Near Rock Springs Being Investigated

State contractors have started investigating subsidence-related holes that have opened close to Interstate 80 near Rock Springs, according to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality officials. The openings are about 150 feet from I-80 near the Pilot Butte Avenue interchange. They don't pose a threat to the interstate or any other nearby roads, DEQ spokesman Keith Guille said. But Guille said Abandoned Mine Lands Division contractors will examine how best to mitigate the 8- to 10-foot-wide holes, which are thought to be historical vent shafts from the now-abandoned Nos. 7 and 9 mines. City of Rock Springs officials told the state about the openings on Monday, Guille said. A local resident had informed the city.

For nearly a century, coal miners carved out miles of shafts underneath Rock Springs and the surrounding area. But since the last mine closed almost 50 years ago, the shafts have started to collapse in places, creating sinkholes. For the past 30 or so years, the state has spent $160 million trying to fix the subsidence problem in Rock Springs and the surrounding area - from identifying where the mine shafts are to pumping in grout to act as support columns. Guille said state workers performed some grouting work near the Pilot Butte interchange three years ago.

State contractors have started investigating subsidence-related holes that have opened close to Interstate 80 near Rock Springs, according to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality officials. The openings are about 150 feet from I-80 near the Pilot Butte Avenue interchange. They don't pose a threat to the interstate or any other nearby roads, DEQ spokesman Keith Guille said. But Guille said Abandoned Mine Lands Division contractors will examine how best to mitigate the 8- to 10-foot-wide holes, which are thought to be historical vent shafts from the now-abandoned Nos. 7 and 9 mines. City of Rock Springs officials told the state about the openings on Monday, Guille said. A local resident had informed the city.

For nearly a century, coal miners carved out miles of shafts underneath Rock Springs and the surrounding area. But since the last mine closed almost 50 years ago, the shafts have started to collapse in places, creating sinkholes. For the past 30 or so years, the state has spent $160 million trying to fix the subsidence problem in Rock Springs and the surrounding area — from identifying where the mine shafts are to pumping in grout to act as support columns. Guille said state workers performed some grouting work near the Pilot Butte interchange three years ago.

For Victims of Domestic Violence in Sweetwater County, There is Help

This is Domestic Violence Awareness month. While a candlelight vigil was just held this week in rememberance of the victims, Terri Lynn Green with the YWCA Support and Safe House, wants those who are still living with violence in Sweetwater County to know that there is help.






Green says it is hard to tell exactly how prevalent domestic violence is in Sweetwater County.






The primary goal of the YWCA Support and Safe House, according to Green, is not to break up families, but to simply end the violence. She also says that victims of domestic violence are not just women, but also includes children and, in many cases, men.

Body Found South of Cheyenne Identified

The body of a woman found near a creek on the south side of Cheyenne was identified by family members. Louise Sanchez, a grandmother of four, was found by two men near Crow Creek at around 6:30 PM on Monday. Police say there are now signs of foul play on the body, but results of an autopsy have not been released. Her family says Sanchez struggled with addiction and believe that alchohol may have played a part in her death.

Rock Springs Men Plead Guilty To Poaching

Two Rock Springs men have pleaded guilty to charges related to shooting and abandoning a mule deer doe south of Pinedale one year ago. Andrew D. McGahuey pleaded guilty to wanton destruction of a doe mule deer, taking deer on private land without permission and shooting a doe mule deer from a public roadway. David A. McGahuey pleaded guilty to accessory to wanton destruction of a doe mule deer. A judge ordered Andrew McGahuey to pay more than $3,000 and David McGahuey to pay more than $700. Both men were sentenced to six months of probation.

Sales tax to Drop Back to 5 Percent

And the people rejoiced...The county-wide sales tax will soon revert back to five percent, according to Sweetwater County Treasurer Robb Slaughter. Slaughter said the CDC recently payed off the mortgage on their Rock Springs facility and Jeff Nieters, director of finance for the City of Green River, said the city received a $2.9 million payment late last month for the city’s portion of the CDC project.

New Wind Farm?

Sweetwater County Commissioners heard plans of a new wind farm Tuesday afternoon. The project is proposed by Enxco, a company with experience in developing 51 wind projects in 15 states. Its Quaking Aspen Wind Farm is proposed to be placed 11.5 miles south of Rock Springs near the south side of Aspen Mountain. The company has negotiated an interconnection agreement with Pacificorp to provide 150 megawatts while its notice of intent lists a maximum of 250 megawatts to accommodate for future wind turbine technology.

Farmer's Market a Success

The Green River Farmers’ Market is being called a great success bringing in a total profit of over 800 dollars. This year, the farmers’ market also collected sponsorships from local businesses and market vendors, which resulted in $2,950 in funds to the market. Including $1,031 in sales throughout the life of the farmer’s market and expenses totaling $3,148.61 says Main Street and URA Administrator John Dahlgren. dditionally, a cheese fundraiser for the matching facade grant offered by Main Street brought in $1,883.

Wolf Hunting Study

The most highly-efficient predator hunting elk is not the wolf. A new study takes a look at wolves’ hunting abilities when it comes to elk, and finds Mother Nature didn’t give wolves the best set of tools, and they would be more successful if they were built more like cats or bears. It's also not uncommon for wolves to be mortally wounded by elk hooves and horns. Wildlife ecologist Dan MacNulty is one of the study’s co-authors...he shares another finding.






MacNulty says wolves do tend to gather in large packs, but the reasons why are unrelated to food…






MacNulty says he’s encountered a general belief that elk are highly vulnerable to wolves – and he’s found that’s clearly not true. He explains why wolves target aging animals






In fact, he found hunting success levels-out with four wolves in a pack. The wolves and elk studied were in Yellowstone National Park.

Fourth Case of Listeria Confirmed

The Wyoming Department of Health says it has confirmed a fourth case of listeria-related illness in the state. According to spokeswoman Kim Deti, lab tests came in today confirming that an elderly male from Lincoln County has been infected, and matches the strains connected to the outbreak. A Sheridan woman died and a man and woman from Laramie County were sickened by the disease in recent weeks. A national outbreak of the disease has been associated with Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupe from Jensen farms in Colorado.

80 Pounds of Pot Seized By Wyoming Highway Patrol Near Rock Springs

The Wyoming Highway Patrol seized nearly 80 pounds of marijuana Wednesday in two traffic stops. The first stop was an eastbound vehicle about 11 miles from Rock Springs on Interstate 80 for making an unsafe lane change. After noticing a strong odor of pot from inside the vehicle, the trooper did a search and found almost 6 pounds in a duffel bag. Then, about 22 miles east of Rock Springs, a vehicle was pulled over for following too close to a semi. A drug-detecting dog led his fellow officer to four duffel bags that contained 73 pounds of marijuana. The names have not been released of those arrested.

Waiting List Created For Sweetwater County Library Ghost Walks

Some patrons at the Sweetwater County Library never leave. According to Public Relations Specialist Britney Wells, if you are one of the lucky ones, you might even be able to meet them.






The annual Ghost Walk is currenlty full, but a waiting list is being taken.






The Ghost Walk is not a haunted house, but more like the TV Show Ghost Hunters where equipment such as recorders are used to try to capture images and sound of the spirits. The Walks take place this Saturday and also on the 29th.

Another Hunter Injured By Grizzly

Another hunter has been injured by a Grizzly near Cody. Wildlife officials say a Cody man suffered minor injuries when a surprised grizzly bear took a swipe at him while he was elk hunting in northwestern Wyoming. Brian DeBolt, a bear management officer with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, says the man encountered the bear west of Buffalo Bill Reservoir just before 5 p.m. Saturday. The grizzly charged from about 12 feet, hit the man and left. The man suffered a scalp injury, minor abrasions to his face and sore ribs. He was treated at a Cody hospital and was released the same night.
DeBolt said his department has no plans to capture the bear because it was simply reacting to a perceived threat.

Family Members On Grand Teton Dude Ranch Sue To Stay There

Members of a family that has lived on a ranch in Grand Teton National Park for five generations is suing to make sure they can stay. For the first time since Triangle X Dude Ranch became part of the park, the National Park Service is holding a competitive bidding process to determine who should run it. Three brothers — Harold, John and Donald Turner — filed a lawsuit in federal court in Cheyenne Monday asserting their right to spend the rest of their lives there. It cites the 1950 law that created the park which states that people who worked and lived on park property when it was created and their heirs can live out their lives there.

Rock Springs Police Dog Diagnosed With Cancer

Rock Springs police dog, Athos, is suffering from cancer, but he will to live out his life with his handler, Officer Anthony Hall. City councilors voted Tuesday to allow officer Hall to buy his canine partner, so he can live with the Hall family. The 10-year-old dog developed a limp in his right foreleg which turned out to be caused by cancer. His veterinarian says the German Shepard has about a year left to live. Hall said Athos worked on the two largest drug busts in the department's history and his retirement will leave a big hole in the agency.

Another Grizzly Attack

Wildlife officials say a Cody man suffered minor injuries when a surprised grizzly bear took a swipe at him while he was elk hunting in northwestern Wyoming.
Brian DeBolt, a bear management officer with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, says the man encountered the bear west of Buffalo Bill Reservoir just before 5 p.m. Saturday. The grizzly charged from about 12 feet, hit the man and left.
The man suffered a scalp injury, minor abrasions to his face and sore ribs. He was treated at a Cody hospital and was released the same night.
DeBolt tells The Powell Tribune his department has no plans to capture the bear because it was simply reacting to a perceived threat.

Green River City Council Meeting

Green River held its second City council meeting of the month Tuesday night, Erick Pauley has the story.

Sweetwater County Fugitive Arrested In Idaho

Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's office says that a fugitive wanted by the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office on Aggravated Assault and Battery charges is in custody in Idaho.






According to Sweetwater County charging documents, on June 11, 2010, at an outdoor party near Green River, Maes allegedly attacked a man named Eric Johnson and struck him on the head and face with a hammer. Blust says the Sheriff’s Office is working with Idaho authorities to return Maes to Sweetwater County.

Candlelight Vigil To Be Held In Remembrance of Domestic Violence Victioms

A very special candlelight vigil will be held at the Rock Springs City Council Chamber, located 212 D Street in Rock Springs tonight at 6 PM. Terri Lynn Green with the YWCA Support and Safe House says the event honors those affected by domestic violence.






Green says special silhouettes are displayed in remembrance of those who have lost their lives and a new silhouette will be unveiled this year.






October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Green says there have been 8 adults and 2 children murdered due to domestic violence in Sweetwater County.

BLM To Auction Off Coal

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is planning to auction off some 222 million tons of coal in the Powder River Basin in northeast Wyoming. The coal underlies some 2,000 acres next to the Black Thunder Mine owned by St. Louis-based Arch Coal, Inc. The BLM says it will open sealed bids for the coal for 10 a.m. Dec. 14 at the BLM Wyoming State Office in Cheyenne.

BLM Taking Comments On Gateway West Transmission Line Project

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on the proposed Gateway West Transmission Line Project in Wyoming and Idaho through Oct. 28. The federal agency says that all comments postmarked by that date will be incorporated into the final environmental impact statement on the project. Idaho Power Co. and Rocky Mountain Power are behind the $2 billion Gateway West project. It would involve building a 1,150-mile line to carry wind and other power from Wyoming to Idaho and other points.

Meetings Scheduled on Public Documents

The Sweetwater County Commission has scheduled executive sessions at 3 p.m. every day through Thursday, and Friday if necessary, to review e-mails and other correspondence relating to county business prior to making the documents available for public inspection.
Commission Chairman Debby Dellai-Boese and Commissioner Randy Walker voted to recess their regular Monday afternoon administrative meeting and to resume their meeting on Tuesday.
They will then recess again until Wednesday and recess again until Thursday. Commissioner Paula Wonnacott was unable to attend the Monday meeting due to illness. Dellai-Boese and Walker agreed that it would be best to recess their Monday meeting until Tuesday when presumably Wonnacott will be present and able to participate in the documents review.

East Teton Road Work Causdes Detour

On Thursday and Friday, October 20 and 21, 2011 East Teton will be closed from Monroe Avenue to Logan Street from 8:30 am to 4 pm for surveying work. Traffic will be detoured. Please plan an alternate route.

Body of Female Found In Creek South of Cheyenne

Authorities are investigating after a woman's body was found in a creek on the south side of Cheyenne. Police Sgt. Rob Dafoe said there are no markings of foul play on the body, but the death is being treated as suspicious. Two men reported finding the body in Crow Creek at about 6:30 p.m. Monday, and police believe the woman is a transient. An autopsy is expected to be performed in Colorado on Tuesday.

Wyoming Fires Cost State 8.7 mil This Year

More than 50 large range fires have burned at least 93,000 acres of state and private land this year, according to preliminary numbers from the Wyoming State Forestry Division. The tally released Monday includes fires the division helped battle across the state, most of which occurred over the summer. It does not include most large fires in national parks and forests in Wyoming that were handled by federal agencies. Weston and Niobrara counties saw single lightning storms start more than a dozen fires at a time, he said. The State Forestry Division is still compiling the number of fires, acres and costs of the fires that it was involved in this year. It won't have final numbers until the end of the year. The agency's running total on its costs for fighting fires this year is about $8.7 million.

Three Men Rescued From Northwest Wyoming Cave

Three men have been rescued after getting lost and spending 36 hours in a northwest Wyoming cave. They were found late Sunday in the Ice Cave-Wind Cave complex. They were tired and hungry but didn't need medical attention.
The men were from Sandy, Utah, and Rexburg, Idaho, and were in their early 20s. Their names weren't available.
Relatives reported them missing when they didn't return Sunday. Rescue teams from Idaho made the first forays into the cave because they were closer. Wyoming teams entered later and emerged with the missing men at about 1 a.m. Monday. Sheriff's Capt. Tripp Wilson of Teton County, Wyo., says navigating the cave system involves rappelling down ice, wading through lakes and crawling through a narrow passage.

This is National School Bus Safety Week

In Wyoming , drivers coming from either direction of a stopped school bus must stop when the bus has its red lights flashing. As part of National School Bus Safety week, Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's office says drivers need to pay attention when out on the road.






Blust says we can all remember what it was like to be a kid on a school bus.






In Wyoming, the law allows a maximum 750 dollar fine for passing a school bus when the red lights are flashing. Blust also encourages parents and guardians to teach children school bus stop safety. The then of this year's School Bus Safety week is “I see the driver, the driver sees me.”

Executives From Rural States To Lobby For Medicare Provision In Washington

Health leaders from the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming plan to travel to the nation's capital this week to try to salvage future Medicare payments. The group wants Congress to protect new rules that, beginning in 2013, will correct inequities in Medicare payments to some rural states. The "frontier" provision of health care reform promises higher payments to hospitals and doctors for treating Medicare patients in rural states, but President Barack Obama has recommended eliminating it as part of federal budget cuts. Sanford Health vice president Cindy Morrison says the provision means tens of millions of dollars for states like South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Utah. Fifteen executives from the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming will go to the Capitol on Wednesday to make their case.

EnCana Opens First Public Natural Gas Fueling Station in Wyoming

The number of places for vehicles that run on compressed natural gas to fill up in Wyoming continues to expand. Natural gas giant EnCana is opening its first public natural gas fueling station in the state. The station is located at the Pit Stop Travel Center in Riverton. Over the next three years, EnCana plans to convert its 200-vehicle Wyoming fleet to run on compressed natural gas. The state of Wyoming recently allocated $200,000 to convert 20 state vehicles to run on compressed natural gas.

Ten Sleep Family Members Indicted For Multiple Wildlife Federal Charges

Members of Richard “R.C.” Carter's family from near Ten Sleep may face decades of jail time and millions of dollars in fines for allegedly allowing out-of-state hunters to tag wildlife with their Wyoming landowner hunting permits. According to a federal indictment, Carter, the owner of Big Horn Adventure Outftters allegedly took more than a dozen hunters from 2003 to 2009 onto his family's property to kill deer, elk and antelope. R.C.'s father and younger brother then allegedly used their own tags and falsely claimed in affidavits that they killed them. R.C. And Mark Carter the helped transport the animals across state lines to those hunters' homes. The case is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 9 in Casper.

Fall Clean Up

Fall Clean-Up Week is this week.
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, October 15 through Saturday, October 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.

Street Surface and Other Work On Schedule

Street Surface, Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Replacement, Water Main, Sanitary Sewer Main and Storm Sewer Main in the Electric Addition
Work is on schedule. Underground utility work is continuing on South Center Street, street is closed. Curb, gutter and sidewalk will be installed on South Center before the end of October, weather dependent. 3rd South is closed from South 1st West to South 2nd East, local traffic and business access will be maintained

Hay Winners

For the seventh year in a row, Wyoming producers have won or placed extremely high in the World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.
The World's Forage Analysis Superbowl provides growers from across the United States and Canada an opportunity to vie for forage awards by entering their high quality samples in a dairy or commercial division.
Five Wyoming producers competed in the Commercial Hay Division against 28 other producers from around the U.S.; and five producers from Wyoming competed in a new Grass/Hay Division against 38 others.
The World’s Forage Grand Champion award went to Kelli Hinman, of Wheatland, Wyo. Hinman’s sample won against 398 total entries at the Superbowl. As grand champion, Hinman won a $2,500 cash award sponsored by NutriSave Forage Management System.

Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors BVideo Conference

The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors met via teleconference to discuss industrial bonds for Parkway Plaza Properties, Inc., in Casper. The board made a favorable recommendation to the Governor, Attorney General and State Treasurer to purchase the bond issue in the maximum amount of $3.93 million.
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.

Unique Arts Class Honors Loved Ones Lost

A unique class will be taking place this Thursday courteousy of the Rock Springs Community Fine Arts Center. According to Jennifer Messer, with the Arts Center, the Itty Bitty Memorial Altars class provides a way to pay tribute to the things or people you love.






Messer says the small altars are a nice way to keep a memorial with you throughout the day. There is no charge for the class.






The class will be taking place from 6:30 to 9 PM Thursday.

70 Attend Wall Street Protest In Cheyenne

A Wall Street protest in Cheyenne this weekend was attended by about 70 people. Those attending carried signs Saturday advocating against bailing out wealthy institutions. They also carried signs that call for the repeal of tax loopholes that benefit the upper class, and criticized executive pay and bashed Washington for failing to create jobs. No arrests were immediately reported at the protest at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza. The rally was part a global call for protests sparked by the Occupy Wall Street movement.

State Encourages Women to Get Mammograms

Wyoming is among the lowest states in the country in terms of the number of women who get mammograms as recommended. The Wyoming Department of Health says October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Carol Peterson with the health department says the screening rate for Wyoming women over age 40 last year was just over 67 percent, putting Wyoming 48th nationwide. The median rate nationwide was over 75 percent. The Wyoming Comprehensive Cancer Consortium says all women should consider having mammograms every one to two years beginning at age 40.

UW Associate Professor Named Homecoming Parade Grand Marshall

University of Wyoming associate professor of history Phil Roberts has been chosen to be the grand marshal of the annual UW homecoming parade. Roberts will lead the procession of floats, bands and other units through downtown Laramie beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. A native of Lusk, Roberts spent his early years on a ranch homesteaded by his grandfather. He holds a B.S. in political science and a J.D. from UW and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Washington. Roberts has been a UW faculty member since 1990. He has served as editor of "Annals of Wyoming" and is co-author of the "Wyoming Almanac." His edited textbook, "Readings in Wyoming History," is in its fourth edition.

Medicine Bow Tables Chicken Code Talk

The Medicine Bow Town Council tabled a proposed code amendment Monday that would forbid residents from keeping chickens, ducks and other fowl within town limits. The Town Council is scheduled to discuss the issue at a special meeting at 6 p.m., Oct. 24. The proposed amendment came up after a resident asked the council for permission  to keep horses in town for a 4-H project. That person decided to keep the horses out of town, but the council discovered other residents were keeping chickens, ducks and other fowl in town. Heath said the proposed amendment allows people to keep a small amount of egg-laying fowl, but not something like 100 chickens.

School Meeting

Here's Erick Pauley with an update from this weeks School District Meeting

Caylee's Law Rejected by Lawmakers

A panel of Wyoming lawmakers has rejected a draft bill that would have made it a crime for parents or guardians not to report a missing child. No members of the Legislature's Joint Judiciary Committee moved to approve the bill Thursday at a hearing in Laramie. The push to consider a bill was inspired by the Casey Anthony trial in Florida. A jury this summer found Anthony not guilty of murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. The case drew wide attention in part because Anthony did not report the girl's disappearance for several weeks. Wyoming county prosecutors told the committee on Thursday that they saw no need for such a law in the state.

Sugar Beet Harvest Slowed By Rain

Recent wet weather has slowed down the sugar beet harvest in eastern Wyoming... that is according to Western Sugar Cooperative officials. Rainfall amounts of between 2 and 3 inches fell last weekend in the area. Western Sugar agriculturalist Craig Spencer says growers will have to wait for drier conditions before resuming the harvest. Western Sugar officials said that the harvest is about 10 percent complete.

Brucellosis Confirmed In Cattle In Northen Wyoming

Livestock officials say tests have confirmed brucellosis (brew-suh-LOW'-sis) in two cattle in northern Wyoming. 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 said Thursday a third animal in the same herd has since tested positive in preliminary testing. The herd has been quarantined along with two nearby herds, which also are being tested. Officials say the brucellosis found in the cattle is the same strain found in elk roaming that area of Park County. Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that originates in elk and bison. The disease can cause cattle to abort their calves.

Warnings Issued About the Latest Scam

The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department is warning the public about the latest scam. Detective Dick Blust says the phone scam is circulating throughout the county.






Blust is reminding everyone to never give out personal information to any unknown source, especially if that source was the one who contacted you.

South Korea Trade Agreement Creates Opportunities For Wyoming

U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi says a free trade agreement with South Korea will help open markets for Wyoming beef producers. Congress on Wednesday approved free trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia and Panama. The South Korean agreement eliminates a 40 percent tariff imposed on U.S. beef over a 15-year period. It also would remove other non-tariff barriers that currently restrict the trade of meat products. Enzi says the agreement will increase U.S. beef exports to Korea by as much as $1.8 billion and sets the stage for expanding Wyoming meat products into other Asian markets.

Grizzly Bears Force Closure of Road at Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park has closed portions of the road between Moose and Wilson because of the presence of feeding grizzly bears. Bears are feeding on chokecherry bushes and other plants in the area. Intermittent closures have been in effect since last Friday because people have been parking their vehicles too close to the bears. Park officials say the road is narrow and lined with vegetation and doesn't allow for a safe distance between people and the bears. The road closure will remain in effect until bears move out of the area. The road is closed from the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve access road to the intersection of the Moose-Wilson and Teton Park roads in Moose.

Green River School Board Sets Goals For Students

The Green River school board has set a new goal of having 85 percent of students test proficient or advanced in math, reading and writing. Sweetwater County School District 2 met its previous goal of 75 percent testing proficient or advanced. Officials say they also hope to get 100 percent of the students' parents involved in their children's education. Principals are working on strategies to achieve that. The district has 11 schools.

New Computer Programs Installed to Benefit Public

Upgraded computer programs at The Sweetwater County Clerk’s Office were installed to increase efficiency and eventually provide residents with better access to information. Dale Davis, Sweetwater County clerk, said the county decided to purchase a new system after its previous information technology director retired. The previous director wrote the programs used in both the clerk’s office and the Sweetwater County Treasurer's Office.

Clearview Acres Improvement District Wants Answers

Residentsof Clearview Acres Improvement District demanded answers and accountability from board members they elected to manage funds paid to the improvement district. Rock Springs is owed about $149,000 by the district for sewer services, and residents looking at payments made by the board discovered inappropriate purchases charged to the board. According to Lisa Tarufelli, clerk for the City of Rock Springs, the board has been behind in their sewer payments since November 2008. David Gillespie, a resident living in the improvement district, brought documents to the board showing a number of purchases he believes were misappropriated funds. Included in the purchases were a number of Wal-Mart gift cards, charged in amounts varying from $500 to $1,000 made by the board.
resident Ed Fletcher says that amounts to embezzlement in his eyes. The board spent $7,758.48 in Wal-Mart gift cards between November 2009 and November 2010 according to receipts given to the Green River Star.

White Mountain Library To Hold Annual Sale

The White Mountain Library in Rock Springs is hosting their annual sale starting at noon and ending Saturday. Head Librarian Jason Grubb says there is a lot to offer at this sale.






Grubb says people that come and make a purchase get a great deal.






Volunteers are still need to help tear down. Grubb encourages everyone to fill a bag and make an offer. All proceeds go to supporting library programs.

Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office Investigating Misappropriation of Funds

Detective Dick Blust with the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office says they are investigating claims of misappropriation of public funds raised at a recent County Commission meeting.





 
According to Blust, the investigation is in only its early stages. On Tuesday, county detectives were scheduling interviews and continuing their examination of Service District documents. Anyone with information in the matter is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Detective Division. 

Rock Springs Man Killed In One Vehicle Accident

The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a one-vehicle rollover that took the life of a Rock Springs man on Tuesday. Detective Dick Blust says deputies responded to the accident at around 11:30 PM at the intersection of Gannett and Summit Drives north of Rock Springs.





 
Blust says that Deputy Sheriff Matt Wharton noted that Castro was breathing and moving around, but that Clark was unresponsive at the scene.





 
Haskell said his agency’s investigation is continuing. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash.